Atos 26
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 26
Wiersbe - Paul considered himself an enlightened man; for, after all, he was a Jew (Rom. 9:4–5), a scholar (Acts 22:3), and a Pharisee. In reality, Paul had lived in gross spiritual darkness. He knew the Law in his pre-conversion days, but he had not realized that the purpose of the Law was to bring him to Christ (Gal. 3:24). He had been a self-righteous Pharisee who needed to discover that his good works and respectable character could never save him and take him to heaven (Phil. 3:1–11). (Bible Exposition Commentary) Larkin - it was an objective experience in space and time, for the companions heard a voice, though not the message. They saw a light, though not Jesus (Acts 9:7; 22:9). Light is appropriate to the theophany of the heavenly risen Lord in his divine mode of being (Ex 20:18; Deut 4:12; Is 60:1-3; O'Toole 1978:63). It is a fitting metaphor for the revelation and salvation he brings (Is 42:6; 49:6; Lk 2:32; Acts 26:18, 23; Krodel 1986:461). Our Lord's dealing with Paul here teaches us that to get the attention of those who are self-confident enough in their religion to persecute others, God may take extraordinary steps to literally bring them to their knees. (Ibid) (ED: I can vouch for that because I ran from Him for 39 years! See My Personal Testimony of God's Grace.) David Jeremiah adds that “It’s easy for us to believe that because our personal testimony is nowhere near as dramatic as Paul’s that it is not worth sharing. But note what makes Paul’s testimony so interesting: the fact that he was totally on the other side from Christ. He was a persecutor of Christ and His church. But isn’t that true of everyone who becomes a Christian? Weren’t we dead in our trespasses and sins, enemies of God. Yes, we were. We may not have gone around persecuting Christians, but we were friends of the world, not God. So for anyone to go from being the enemy of God to the friend of God through conversion to Christ is a dramatic testimony, regardless of how it happened. Therefore, any testimony that is true and told from a biblical point of view is a dramatic store of role-reversal that is supernatural to the core. And it is a story—your story—that should be told.” Three times the conversion of Paul is recorded in the Holy Scriptures. Each time special emphasis is placed on the light I. The Brightest Light There is no doubt about that. The text tells us it was brighter than the sun. Note the words "above the brightness of the sun". Is, this possible? Is light above and beyond the sun a fake or a fiction? It is a fact. Just the same way that there was light without the sun on the first three days of creation. This bright light was seen in the world before it shone on Paul. In Eden it shone keeping the way to the tree of life. For Abraham it was a burning lamp amidst the sacrifices. For Moses it was a flaming bush. At the tabernacle it was the abiding cloud and fire. In the temple it was a glory before which the priests could not stand. For Paul it was a light brighter than the sun. For us, like John, it is the fact that—"He was a burning and a shining light" John 5:35 II. The Blinding Light To those whose eyes desire only to behold vanity it is a blinding light. Paul rose up and opened his eyes but he could not see. He was blinded to all that he had before lived for and worked for. His greatest desires were now in darkness. He could no longer see them. After three days Paul came out of his darkness into light. He received new sight and from that day he saw everything differently. He had seen the Saviour and now he saw the Scriptures as they really are, testifying of Christ. What preaching he did in Damascus as a result! III The Best Light Paul had seen the best light and to the end of his earthly pilgrimage he followed the gleam. It led him to the martyr's death but also to the martyr's dazzling crown. Hence his continual cry, "That I might know Him". Have you experienced the brightest, blinding and best light? Are you following its gleam? If so, you can rejoice. If not, you are heading for the blackness of darkness forever. Acts 26:14 "And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' Amplified - And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice in the Hebrew tongue saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you continue to persecute Me [to harass and trouble and molest Me]? It is dangerous and turns out badly for you to keep kicking against the goads [to keep offering vain and perilous resistance]. NET Acts 26:14 When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself by kicking against the goads.' GNT Acts 26:14 πάντων τε καταπεσόντων ἡμῶν εἰς τὴν γῆν ἤκουσα φωνὴν λέγουσαν πρός με τῇ Ἑβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ, Σαοὺλ Σαούλ, τί με διώκεις; σκληρόν σοι πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειν. NLT Acts 26:14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will. ' KJV Acts 26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. ESV Acts 26:14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' CSB Acts 26:14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' NIV Acts 26:14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' NKJ Acts 26:14 "And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language,`Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' NRS Acts 26:14 When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.' YLT Acts 26:14 and we all having fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute? hard for thee against pricks to kick! NAB Acts 26:14 We all fell to the ground and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.' NJB Acts 26:14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you, kicking against the goad. GWN Acts 26:14 All of us fell to the ground, and I heard a voice asking me in Hebrew, 'Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me? It's hard for a mortal like you to resist God.' BBE Acts 26:14 And when we had all gone down on the earth, a voice came to me, saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me so cruelly? It is hard for you to go against the impulse which is driving you. In the Hebrew dialect - Acts 21:40; 22:2. Saul. Acts 9:4, 5; 22:7–9. hard for you to kick against the goads . Pr. 13:15. Zech 2:8; 12:2. 1 Co. 10:22. C H
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Wiersbe adds that "The pronoun you in Acts 26:8 is plural, so Paul must have looked around at the entire audience as he spoke. The Greeks and Romans, of course, would not believe in the doctrine of the Resurrection (Acts 17:31, 32+), nor would the Sadducees who were present (Acts 23:8+). To Paul, this was a crucial doctrine, for if there is no Resurrection, then Jesus Christ was not raised and Paul had no Gospel to preach. (Bible Exposition Commentary)
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Wiersbe - Jesus Christ spoke to Paul in the familiar Aramaic tongue of the Jews, called him by name, and told him it was futile for him to continue fighting the Lord. In that moment, Paul had made two surprising discoveries: Jesus of Nazareth was alive, and He was so united to His people that their suffering was His suffering! Paul was persecuting not only the church, but also his own Messiah! How encouraging it is to know that God in His grace speaks to those who are His enemies. God had been dealing with Paul, but Paul had been resisting Him, kicking against the “goads.” What were these “goads”? Certainly the testimony and death of Stephen (Acts 22:20), plus the faithful witness of the other saints who had suffered because of Paul. (The Bible Exposition Commentary,) NET Note - Sayings which contain the imagery used here (kicking against the goads) were also found in Greek writings; see Pindar, Pythians 2.94–96; Euripides, Bacchae 795. The goads - The goad is a traditional farming implement, used to spur or guide life stock, usually oxen, which are pulling a plough or a cart; used also to round up cattle. It is a type of long stick with a pointed end, also known as the cattle prod. (Wikipedia) It is hard for you to kick against the goads - Jesus used this idiomatic phrase to symbolize Saul's stubborn resistance to Jesus and His message. We should not be too hard on Saul (Paul) for all of us from time to time rebel willfully against Jesus and in a similar way we too are kicking against the goads.
Atos 26
Wiersbe - The word minister in Acts 26:16 means “an under-rower” and refers to a lowly servant on a galley ship. Paul had been accustomed to being an honored leader, but after his conversion he became a subordinate worker; and Jesus Christ became his Master. The Lord had promised to be with Paul and protect him; and He also promised to reveal Himself to him. Paul saw the Lord on the Damascus road, and again three years later while in the temple (Acts 22:17–21). Later, the Lord appeared to him in Corinth (Acts 18:9) and in Jerusalem (Acts 23:11), and He would appear to him again. (Bible Exposition Commentary) NET Note on a minister and a witness - The commission is similar to Acts 1:8+ and Luke 1:2+. Paul was now an “eyewitness” of the Lord. Larkin on Jesus' choice of huperetes - With this term for "assistant" Jesus stresses that Paul is to do exactly his master's bidding (Lk 1:2+; Lk 4:20+; Acts 13:5+) Minister (5257)(huperetes from hupo = under, beneath + eretes = a rower) is literally and under oarsman and then a subordinate, a servant, an attendant (Lk 4:20+), one who is in the service of another or an assistant in general. Huperetes describes a a helper who willingly submits himself to carrying out the will of the one over him. In John 7:32, 45, 46+ it is used of the Temple "police" or guards. The subordinate official who waits to accomplish the commands of his superior. In Classic Greek huperetes was a common sailor, distinguished from a naútes (3492), a seaman, sailor. These were the men down in the ship's, doing one thing -- rowing and with their eyes on one man, the man standing at the front of the hull, shouting "Row,Row, Row!" Servants of the word describes these men as focused on the word, listening and acting according to the word. "They not only had personal knowledge of the facts but also practical experience of the facts." (Plummer) Wiersbe - The one word that best summarizes Paul’s life and ministry is “witnessing” (see Acts 26:16). He simply shared with others what he had learned and experienced as a follower of Jesus Christ. His message was not something he manufactured, for it was based solidly on the Old Testament Scriptures...The Lord has a special work for Saul to do. The Hebrew of Hebrews would become the apostle to the Gentiles; the persecutor would become the preacher; and the legalistic Pharisee would become the great proclaimer of the grace of God.” (Bible Exposition Commentary) Witness (noun) (3144)(martus/martys) basically describes one who remembers something and testifies concerning what they remember. Notice that martus has a two fold meaning of (1) describing one who has seen and/or experienced something or someone and (2) one who testifies to what he or she saw. The testimony could be in a legal setting (Mk 14:63; Acts 6:13; 7:58; Heb. 10:28) or in the general sense of recounting firsthand knowledge (Lk 11:48; 1Ti. 6:12; Heb 12:1; 1Pe 5:1). Martus in Acts - Acts 1:8; Acts 1:22; Acts 2:32; Acts 3:15; Acts 5:32; Acts 6:13; Acts 7:58; Acts 10:39; Acts 10:41; Acts 13:31; Acts 22:15; Acts 22:20; Acts 26:16 A martus is one who attests to a fact or event, one who gives evidence (testifies in a court to the truth of a fact or event), one who has seen or has personal knowledge of something or someone, especially as an "eye witness" (eg, the apostles in Acts having and relating their personal knowledge of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances). A witness is one who furnishes evidence or proof, confirming the truth by verbal testimony. And so in this passage we see that Jesus is alluding to Paul's divine call and commission. The implication is that everything he was to do had been "pre-planned" by God. While believers of course do not have a divine commission exactly like Paul (who was an apostle), we do have a "pre-planned" appointment "For we are His workmanship (poiema = masterpiece) , created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Eph 2:10+). THOUGHT - This truth of God's previously prepared plan for every believer's life begs the question - Am I walking in His plan? Am I engaged in carrying out His "good works" or my "works" which are ultimately not good? Jesus gave us the pattern for "good works" in John 15:5 declaring "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do (ABSOLUTELY) nothing." (Read also 1 Cor 3:11-15) See related discussions of Good Works and Believers as God's Masterpiece, His Poiema God pre-planning of His children's steps reminds me of Proverbs... Proverbs 16:9 "The mind (Literally = "heart" = the "control center") of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps (Ed: One step after another which is why we need to obey at each step! Play Rich Mullins' Sometimes by Step)." Comment - What does this proverb teach? It says that only the plans that are laid out and approved by God will succeed (at least in regard to eternal value). This emphasizes God's sovereignty in our lives. Proverbs 20:24 "Man’s steps (NLT = "the road we travel") are [ordained] (Lxx = euthuno = caused to be straight, a ship steered on course = Jas 3:4) by the LORD, How then can man understand his way? " Gleason Archer spoke of the mysterious juxtaposition of sovereignty and free will writing that "God purposefully pre-sets all the physical 'scenes of life' – and keeps all of our choices free (undetermined), i.e. none are required by the Lord." THOUGHT - O how wonderful when we seek His will for our life and learn to walk by the Spirit in His will, for then as Jesus promised we will bear much fruit. We would be wise to imitate the apostle Paul (1 Cor 11:1+ See The Holy Spirit-Walking Like Jesus Walked!) who continually sought God's will, not his own (Read Acts 18:21, Acts 21:14, Ro 1:10, Ro 15:32, 1 Cor 4:19). Brian Harbour said, “Paul discovered Christ not only wanted to save him from something, but He also wanted to save him for something... We need to realize that as a Christian there are gifts that God has given us, and He expects us to use those gifts in performing a ministry for Him.” Ray Stedman makes some observations on get up...I have appeared to you to appoint you a minister and a witness noting that this "indicates a tremendous reversal of this man's whole approach to life. He is now experiencing the lifestyle which belongs to a Christian. "You are not your own; you are bought with a price. You will be told what to do." That is what conversion is: It is a change from thinking that you can run your own life, to an acknowledgment that God holds the program in his hands, and he has the right to tell you what to do. This was the first thing Paul experienced when he became a Christian, this right of Jesus Christ to be Lord, and to tell him what he was to do. Conversion is a revolutionary change of government resulting in a radical change in behavior. That is what happened to Paul. He was put on a wholly different lifestyle. He was told to go into the city. Now he would no longer be giving the orders. He would no longer be directing men and sending them where he wanted them to go and doing what he wanted to do, but he would be told what he was to do." (Beloved Enemy) Oswald Chambers - The overmastering direction I have appeared unto thee for this purpose. Acts 26:16. The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was no passing emotion, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him, and he says—“I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” Our Lord said, in effect, to Paul—‘Your whole life is to be overmastered by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.’ ‘I have chosen him.’ When we are born again we all have visions, if we are spiritual at all, of what Jesus wants us to be, and the great thing is to learn not to be disobedient to the vision, not to say that it cannot be attained. It is not sufficient to know that God has redeemed the world, and to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did effectual in me; I must have the basis of a personal relationship to Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim, he was brought into a vivid, personal, overmastering relationship to Jesus Christ. Verse 16 is immensely commanding—“to make thee a minister and a witness.” There is nothing there apart from the personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s; he saw nothing else; he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” WHAT'S NEXT?" Having just received the Lord Jesus as his Savior from sin, an enthusiastic young boy blurted out, "Now what do I do? What's next?" He had the right idea! Although nothing further had to be done to receive salvation, there was much more to do to serve God. The Bible, in Ephesians 2:8-9, makes it crystal-clear that we are saved by grace through faith. We could never do anything to deserve salvation. The best we have to offer is not good enough to meet the Lord's holy standards. We experience forgiveness of sin, find peace with God, have the promise of heaven and become possessors of everlasting life by trusting the Lord Jesus and Him alone. It is impossible for anyone to earn these favors! Following conversion, however, we should respond as that young boy and the apostle Paul did, "Now what do I do? What's next?" Immediately after stating that we are not saved by works, Ephesians 2 tells us, "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:10). Oh, what can I give to the Master, The One who from sin set me free? I'll give Him a lifetime of service To thank Him for dying for me. - K. De Haan We cannot work for salvation, but salvation is followed by works. Be a Witness - Bob Gass I have appeared unto thee … to make thee a witness … Delivering thee from the people. (Acts 26:16,17) You’re not called to be a judge, and you’re not called to be a lawyer; you’re called to be a witness to God’s saving and keeping power in your life. Only talk about the God you’ve experienced! Tell people what He’s done for you. Their God may be a distant deity who doesn’t get involved. Or He may be angry with them because He’s an auditor, and their books don’t balance. When nine out of ten people don’t go to church, there’s got to be a reason. We’ve been called to be “salt and light,” but if the light is not shining and the salt is not doing its job, how will they ever be reached and won? (See Matthew 5:13–14.) Please notice what God said to Paul, for it’s a key for you. He promised to “deliver him from the people” (Acts 26:17). Some of us need to be delivered from the people! Love them; lead them; lay down your life for them—but don’t be afraid of them. If you’re anointed, then your authority comes from God, not them. When you’ve heard clearly from Him, you can face anybody! When God fills you with His Spirit, you’ll receive a new boldness. Look at Peter; a few days ago he was denying Jesus and running from a mere girl; now he’s preaching to multitudes and winning them to Christ. What happened? He was empowered by the Holy Spirit! TODAY GOD WANTS TO FILL YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT, TO SET YOU FREE FROM THE PEOPLE, AND MAKE YOU A WITNESS. WILL YOU LET HIM? (A Fresh Word for Today) God's Work Upon Minister and Convert - C. H. Spurgeon. Acts 26:16-18 I. A WORK WROUGHT BY GOD UPON THE MINISTER. 1. Subjugation. While a man is a rebel, the Lord does not appoint him an ambassador; while he is dead in sin, a preacher of the way of life. Paul was struck down; for if he had not fallen, he would not have known how to lift others up. He remained blind for three days; otherwise he would not have been qualified to deal with others in darkness. See what God does in His ministers to fit them for your conversion. In order to slay your sins the shaft has been polished. Each of the best locks made by our eminent locksmiths is unique, and each needs its own special key: so God fits certain men for reaching certain men. 2. Encouragement. "Rise, and stand upon thy feet." Men can hardly be very useful till they cease to be despondent, and become energetic and hopeful. I have noticed that those who do not believe that they will be successful seldom are so; but those who rise and stand upon their feet, and manfully expect that God will bless them, are not disappointed. 3. Ordination. And to this end he must see the Lord for himself. Our Lord's appearing — (1) Makes him willing to be a servant, for that is the meaning of the word "minister." When the renewed mind beholds the Lord, it cries out, "What wilt Thou have me to do?" (2) Qualifies him to act as a witness. We cannot bear witness to that which we have never seen. Hearsay is of small value. Heads are won by reasoning, but hearts are won by witness bearing. 4. Continuous instruction. He is to be a witness not only of those things which he has seen, but also of those things in the which the Lord will yet appear unto him. 5. Constant preservation. "Delivering thee from the people," etc. Paul's life was always in danger, and yet never in real peril, for the Lord was his keeper. So shall every true servant of Christ be kept as with a garrison from all evil. II. THE WORK WROUGHT IN THE HEARER. 1. Illumination: the Lord sends His servant "to open their eyes." Men are born blind, and continue blind till, by the power of Jesus, sight is given to them. Your education and surroundings have perhaps placed a film of prejudice over your eyes; if a candid, childlike spirit were given you, you would see. Or possibly some favourite sin is like a cataract upon the eye of your conscience, and you cannot see the evil of sin or the beauty of holiness. Or it may be that unbelief darkens your soul. 2. Conversion: "to turn them from darkness to light." What a blessed turning is that which makes us face truth, and goodness, and God, and heaven; and leave ignorance, sin, and hell behind. 3. Translation. As the soul is brought into a new element, so is it also brought under a new government. "From the power of Satan unto God." Somebody says, "I do not understand how this can be performed in a minute." Well, two men are fighting, and we beg them to leave off. Do you recommend them to leave off gradually? If anybody held a pistol at my head, I should not say, "Take it away by degrees." Changes of mind such as are necessary to conversion had need be quick when sin is to be forsaken, for every moment deepens the guilt. It may seem a very gradual process by which a man who was dead comes to life; but for certain there is a point at which he left the dead and became alive, and that point God sees very clearly, even though we do not. 4. Complete forgiveness. The same moment that we receive Christ, we "receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified." What a blessing to become an heir of God! To what choice company is a sinner introduced when he believes in Jesus! He is a freeholder among the burgesses of the New Jerusalem. 5. And all this has for its certificate and mark of genuineness these words — "By faith that is in Me." The whole process of salvation is by faith. III. A WORK WHICH MUST BE DONE BY THE HEARER HIMSELF. This text speaks of Paul being an instrument in the hands of God of opening men's eyes, etc., and they seem to be passive; but now they are called upon to be active. We are created thinking, intelligent beings, and we are saved as such. Never let us forget either the free agency of man or the purposes of God. Grace reigns not over slaves, but over obedient children. 1. You must repent. It is not the work of God the Holy Ghost to repent for you, but to lead you to repent. 2. You must turn to God. Your prayer may be, "Turn thou me, and I shall be turned"; but the command is, "Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?" God will turn you, but you have willingly to yield, and thus turn yourself. 3. You must do works meet for repentance; for wherever there is true faith there will be corresponding works, such as these: restitution if you have wronged anyone, reconciliation if you are at enmity with anyone, acknowledgment if you have spoken falsely, giving up of evil habits, and an earnest endeavor to be pure and holy. Acts 26:17 rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, Amplified - Choosing you out [selecting you for Myself] and delivering you from among this [Jewish] people and the Gentiles to whom I am sending you— (cp Ezekiel 2:3) NET Acts 26:17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you GNT Acts 26:17 ἐξαιρούμενός σε ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν εἰς οὓς ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω σε NLT Acts 26:17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles KJV Acts 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, ESV Acts 26:17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles-- to whom I am sending you CSB Acts 26:17 I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles. I now send you to them NIV Acts 26:17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them NKJ Acts 26:17 `I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, NRS Acts 26:17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles-- to whom I am sending you YLT Acts 26:17 delivering thee from the people, and the nations, to whom now I send thee, NAB Acts 26:17 I shall deliver you from this people and from the Gentiles to whom I send you, NJB Acts 26:17 I shall rescue you from the people and from the nations to whom I send you GWN Acts 26:17 I will rescue you from the Jewish people and from the non-Jewish people to whom I am sending you. BBE Acts 26:17 And I will keep you safe from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you, Rescuing - Acts 9:23–25, 29, 30; 13:50; 14:5, 6, 19, 20; 16:39; 17:10, 14; 18:10, 12–16; 19:28, Acts 21:28–36; 22:21, 22; 23:10–24; 25:3, 9–11; 27:42–44. Ps 34:19; 37:32, 33. 2 Co. 1:8–10; 4:8–10; 11:23–26. 2 Ti. 3:11; 4:16, 17. Gentiles. Acts 9:15; 22:21; 28:28. Ro. 11:13; 15:16. Gal 2:9. Ep. 3:7, 8. 1 Ti. 2:7. 2 Ti. 1:11; 4:17. Paul Before Agrippa - Video - 7 minutes Acts 26 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries GOD'S RESCUE MISSION FOR HIS MISSIONARY PAUL Rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you - Jesus commissions Paul to be an apostle for missions. Recall that in order for one to be an official apostle of Jesus in the NT, they had to have been an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:21–22), and Paul was (cf. 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:8). Rescuing (delivering) (1807)(exaireo from ek = out + hairéo = choose, elect, take) means to rescue or set someone free from danger - Paul had been in danger of being killed several times by the Jews (Acts 9:22, 23, 24+, Acts 9:28, 29+, Acts 21:31+, Acts 23:12-15+, Acts 25:3+) and even by the Gentiles (egged on by the Jews) had tried to kill him at Lystra (Acts 14:19, 20+). Delivering, plucking out, drawing out, rescuing, which is what Jesus did for all of us giving "Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." (Gal 1:4+) Luke used this word to describe God's rescue of Israel from Egyptian bondage (Acts 7:34), of God's angel rescuing Peter from the jail and the hand fo Herod (Acts 12:11+), and of the Roman Claudius Lysius rescuing Paul from the Jews who were about to kill him (Acts 23:27+). Exaireo in NT - Matt. 5:29; Matt. 18:9; Acts 7:10; Acts 7:34; Acts 12:11; Acts 23:27; Acts 26:17; Gal. 1:4 Marshall points out that "The account of Paul’s call is similar to that of the prophets of Israel (cf. Ezek. 2:1), and God’s promise of protection to him also has Old Testament echoes (Jer. 1:8; 1 Chr. 16:35). (Ibid) Larkin on Gentiles to whom I am sending you - The direct Gentile mission, so offensive to his fellow Jews, is so necessary in God's saving plan that it is even part of the gospel message (Lk 24:46-47+ where "all the nations" is equivalent to "Gentiles"). It must ever determine the target audience of Paul's mission and ever be the flash point of opposition to it (Acts 9:15+; Acts 13:46-50+; Acts 22:15, 21-22+). All who will answer Christ's call to be witnesses will face the challenge of responding with courage and confidence. (Ibid) I am sending (present tense)(649)(apostello from apo = from, away from + stello = to withdraw from, avoid) means to send off, to send forth. To send out or commission as a representative or ambassador. The idea is to send forth from one place to another - Paul was going in place of Jesus and the same principle applies to all saints today for we are all to be "ambassadors for Christ." (2 Cor 5:20+) But the meaning of apostello is more than just to send because it means "to send off on a commission to do something as one’s personal representative, with credentials furnished" (Wuest Word Studies - Eerdman Publishing Company Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3 - used by permission) TODAY IN THE WORD I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light. - Acts 26:17-18 In Sumerian mythology, the hero Gilgamesh went to the island of Dilmun in search of eternal life. In 1953, archaeologist T. Geoffrey Bibby discovered the historical reality. Dilmun turned out to be a 4,000-year-old city buried under the current city of Manama, the capital of Bahrain, an island state off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Dilmun had been a rich, independent trading center strategically located between the Middle East and India. Despite these advantages, it still could not offer eternal life. In order to truly find eternal life, there is only one Way—Jesus Christ. At this point, Paul was still in prison on vague charges stemming from the incident we read about yesterday. A new governor, Festus, had just arrived and was trying to figure out what to do with his mysterious prisoner. He scheduled a special hearing so King Agrippa and Queen Bernice could hear the man and so he himself could try to understand enough to write a coherent report to Rome. The circumstances were different—a royal court instead of barracks steps—but one thing hadn't changed: Paul's enthusiasm to seize any and all opportunities to share the gospel. For the occasion, his style was more formal, but this testimony follows a similar arc that we saw yesterday. Because Agrippa understood Jewish culture, Paul described his background as a model Jew, explained how through the prophets God had promised the Messiah, and again was painfully honest about his early, hate-filled opposition to Christ. He told his dramatic Damascus road experience, but telescoped the story in order to dwell more on the change itself (vv. 16-18). His life of ministry proved his personal integrity, as he emphasized his obedience, consistency in life and message, and dependence on God. The Resurrection was the stumbling block to his listeners, though—Festus found it insane and Agrippa could not accept the concept. Two powerful testimonies … and yet not a single convert. We can take encouragement from this—we don't measure success through the number of converts but from our faithful willingness to share the gospel. TODAY ALONG THE WAY Having seen several examples of Paul's testimony, given in various circumstances to various audiences, begin crafting a version of your own personal testimony. Choose an audience—perhaps a neighbor, co-worker, or extended family member—and consider how to present the gospel and the way you came to faith in a way that this person can understand clearly and might find attractive. Work on your testimony whenever you can, and later this month share it with the person you chose. Acts 26:18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.' NET Acts 26:18 to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' GNT Acts 26:18 ἀνοῖξαι ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν, τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι ἀπὸ σκότους εἰς φῶς καὶ τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ Σατανᾶ ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν, τοῦ λαβεῖν αὐτοὺς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν καὶ κλῆρον ἐν τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις πίστει τῇ εἰς ἐμέ. NLT Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in me.' KJV Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. ESV Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' CSB Acts 26:18 to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that by faith in Me they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified.' NIV Acts 26:18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' NKJ Acts 26:18 `to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' NRS Acts 26:18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' YLT Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the authority of the Adversary unto God, for their receiving forgiveness of sins, and a lot among those having been sanctified, by faith that is toward me. NAB Acts 26:18 to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may obtain forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been consecrated by faith in me.' NJB Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, from the dominion of Satan to God, and receive, through faith in me, forgiveness of their sins and a share in the inheritance of the sanctified." GWN Acts 26:18 You will open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan's control to God's. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and a share among God's people who are made holy by believing in me.' BBE Acts 26:18 To make their eyes open, turning them from the dark to the light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may have forgiveness of sins and a heritage among those who are made holy by faith in me. open their eyes. Acts 9:17, 18. Ps 119:18; 146:8. Isa 29:18; 32:3; 35:5; 42:7; 43:8. Lu. 4:18; 24:45. Jn 9:39. 2 Co. 4:4, 6. Ep. 1:18. so that they may turn. Acts 26:23; Acts 13:47. Isa 9:2; 49:6; 60:1–3. Mal. 4:2. Mt 4:16; 6:22, 23. Lu. 1:79; 2:32. Jn 1:4–9; 3:19; 8:12; 9:5; 12:35, 36. 2 Co. 4:6; 6:14. Ep. 1:18; 4:18; 5:8, 14. 1 Th. 5:4–8. 1 Pe. 2:9, 25. 1 Jn 2:8, 9. from the power of Satan. Isa 49:24, 25; 53:8–12. Lu. 11:21, 22. Col. 1:13. 2 Ti. 2:26. Heb 2:14, 15. 1 Jn 3:8; 5:19. 1 Pe. 2:9. Rev 20:2, 3. that they may receive forgiveness. Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38, 39. Ps 32:1, 2. Lu. 1:77; 24:47. Ro. 4:6–9. 1 Co. 6:10, 11. Ep. 1:7. Col. 1:14. 1 Jn 1:9; 2:12. and an inheritance. Acts 20:32. Ro. 8:17. Ep. 1:11, 14. Col. 1:12. Heb 9:15. James 2:5. 1 Pe. 1:4. who have been sanctified. Acts 20:32. Jn 17:17. 1 Co. 1:2, 30; 6:11. Titus 3:5, 6. Heb 10:10, 14. Jude 1. Rev 21:27. by faith. Acts 15:9. Jn 4:10, 14; 7:38, 39. Ro. 5:1, 2. Gal 2:20; 3:2, 14. Ep. 2:8. Heb 11:6. Benjamin Warfield's sermon The Summation of the Gospel - Acts 26:18 Paul Before Agrippa - Video - 7 minutes Acts 26 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Greek - anoixai (AAN) opthalmous auton tou epistrepsai (AAN) apo skotous eis phos kai tes exousias tou Satana epi ton theon tou labein (AAN) autous aphesin hamartion kai kleron en tois hegiasmenois (RPPMPD) pistei th eis eme Amplified - To open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may thus receive forgiveness and release from their sins and a place and portion among those who are consecrated and purified by faith in Me. My Loose Paraphrase - To supernaturally open the eyes of our heart (circumcising our heart, giving us a new heart, a heart of flesh for a heart of stone) which enables us (by the power of the Spirit indwelling our new heart) to turn from spiritual darkness of Satan's kingdom to the glorious light of God's kingdom, from the right and the might that Satan once exercised over us, to the benevolent power of our loving Master and God, so that we may receive forgiveness of sins and release from our spiritual debt to God (as well as release from the power and penalty of sin and one day future even from the presence and pleasure of sin) and an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for us who are set apart from the world and unto God, made holy forever in our position clothed in the righteousness of Christ all this actuated solely by genuine faith (shown genuine by changed lives, loving obedience and enduring spiritual fruit) in Jesus Christ and His Gospel of salvation. THE GOSPEL OPENS THE EYES OF OUR HEART Open their eyes - A figure of speech to open their eyes spiritually. D L Moody - I REMEMBER one night when the Bible was the driest and darkest book in the universe to me. The next day it was all light. I had the key to it. I had been born of the Spirit. But before I knew anything of the mind of God in His word I had to give up my sin. To open: The purpose of Paul's witness and proclamation was to open their eyes to eternal Truth which produces a change in THINKING which results in a NEW DIRECTION, DOMINION, DESTINY, & ''DOWRY''. Acts 14:27, Rev 3:7,8,20] Open their eyes - Cross References Act 9:17 And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized; Ed: Now Paul had not only his physical eyes opened but more importantly his spiritual eyes opened! Ps 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Thy law. Ed: A great prayer to pray to our Father before we open His Word. It is a supernatural Word and needs supernatural "assistance!" - see Illumination of the Bible Ps 146:8 The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises up those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous; Ed: Jesus did open a few eyes spiritually (and God can still do that!) but more significantly Jesus opens the eyes of the spiritually blind (even as he did for Fannie Crosby although she remained physically blind all her life. What a supernatural paradox that so many of her hymns speak of spiritual sight!) Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long. Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest; Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. Isa 29:18 And on that day the deaf shall hear words of a book, And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. Ed: This is a a prophetic promise which God will fulfill in the Messianic Kingdom John
Atos 26
Wiersbe - The lost sinner is like a blind prisoner in a dark dungeon, and only Christ can open his eyes and give him light and freedom (2 Cor. 4:3–6). But even after he is set free, what about his court record and his guilt? The Lord forgives his sins and wipes the record clean! He then takes him into His own family as His own child and shares His inheritance with him! What must the sinner do? He must trust Jesus Christ (“faith that is in Me”—Acts 26:18). Paul had to lose his religion to gain salvation! He discovered in a moment of time that all of his righteousnesses were but filthy rags in God’s sight, and that he needed the righteousness of Christ (Isa. 64:6). (Bible Exposition Commentary) Forgiveness (859)(aphesis from aphiemi = action which causes separation and is in turn derived from apo = from + hiemi = put in motion, send) literally means to send away or to put apart, a letting go, a leaving behind, a removal. Aphesis refers to a remission as when one remits (pardons, cancels) a debt, or releases then from an obligation. To release from captivity. Remission (see definition of English word) of sins means once and for all taking them away, removing the guilt, punishment and power of sin. And so to release one’s sins, is not just release from the ("legal" or forensic) charge and the just penalty of sin but also release from the power and dominion of sin (and in Heaven the release from the presence of sin and the pleasure of sin). And so we see that Wuest translates Col 1:14+ as "the putting away of our sins" (Wuest Word Studies - Eerdman Publishing Company Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3 - used by permission) The OT gives us a beautiful picture of the meaning of aphesis in the celebration of the Year of Jubilee. In fact there are 11 uses of aphesis in the Septuagint translation of Leviticus 25+ (Lev 25:10-13, 28, 30-31, 33, 40, 41, 50, 52, 54) where aphesis is frequently substituted for the Hebrew word Jubilee, so that instead of the phrase Year of Jubilee the Lxx translated into English reads "Year of the Release" in Lev 25:13 (or "Jubilee of Release in Lev 25:11+). One aspect of the Year of Jubilee involved the setting free of indebted servants or slaves (cf Lev 25:10+). It is interesting that the OT release from debts was associated with a time of celebration. How much more should we as NT saints daily celebrate and revel in the truth that we have been released from our sin debt! I fear I do not ponder this profound truth often enough and begin to take it for granted and become complacent and even indifferent which makes me vulnerable to committing sin! We need to remember that the Year of Jubilee was an OT picture which pointed to and was fulfilled in the crucifixion of the Messiah Whose fully atoning, substitutionary death made release from sin, Satan and death possible for all who receive this truth by grace through faith. Here is an example from Leviticus 25... Leviticus 25:10+ You shall thus consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim a release (Hebrew = deror = a flowing, liberty; Lxx = aphesis) through the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family. Leviticus 25:12+ 'For it is a jubilee (Hebrew - yobel = ram's horn; Lxx = aphesis + onmasia = shouting, a day for blowing the trumpets - The beginning of this year was marked by the blast of the Shofar [Jewish Encyclopedia] or ram's horn); it shall be holy to you. You shall eat its crops out of the field. Related Resource: What is the Year of Jubilee? Mounce writes that aphesis "almost always refers to divine forgiveness, and its meaning is usually clarified by adding “of sins.” In Eph 1:7+; Col 1:14+, Paul defines redemption as specifically related to “the forgiveness of sins.” The forgiveness of sins is a central feature of the Christian message and witness, standing at the heart of the gospel. Also, the divine initiative in the forgiveness of sins creates a forgiving spirit in the life of the Christian. As Christ forgave us, so should we forgive others (Mt 5:38–48+; Ro 12:19–21+).(Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words) Sin (266)(hamartia) literally conveys the idea of missing the mark as when hunting with a bow and arrow (in Homer some hundred times of a warrior hurling his spear but missing his foe). Later hamartia came to mean missing or falling short of any goal, standard, or purpose. Hamartia in the Bible signifies a departure from God's holy, perfect standard of what is right in word or deed (righteous). It pictures the idea of missing His appointed goal (His will) which results in a deviation from what is pleasing to Him. In short, sin is conceived as a missing the true end and scope of our lives, which is the Triune God Himself. As Martin Luther put it "Sin is essentially a departure from God." Forgiveness Cross References: Act 3:19+ "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; Act 5:31+ "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Act 10:43+ "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." Act 13:38+ "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. Ps 32:1 (quoted in Ro 4:7) A Psalm of David. A Maskil. How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! Ps 32:2 (quoted in Ro 4:8) How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit! Luke 1:77+ To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, Luke 24:47+ and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Eph 1:7+ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, Col 1:14+ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 1 Jo 1:9+ If we confess (present tense - calls for this to be a continual activity) our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 Jo 2:12+ I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake. AN INHERITANCE IN CHRIST FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN! Our inheritance is now and then. We have a down payment in many ways in this passing world, but the consummation of our inheritance awaits the eternal world. There believers will enjoy divine blessings forever and ever. Amen Inheritance (lot) (2819)(kleros from kláo = to break) was first a specially marked small object, pebble or a piece of wood used in casting lots as in Acts 1:17, 26+. The object was thrown down in order to aid the making decisions a practice based on pagan views of chance (Greeks and Romans), or in the case of believers using the lot and interpreting the result as guided by God (see Acts 1:26 in choosing Judas' replacement). Kleros also was used to refer to the allotted portion or inheritance , specifically one's possession or what is possessed (Acts 8:21+, Acts 26:18, Acts 20:32+, Colossians 1:12+) Inheritance Cross References -- Dear weary and beleaguered saint, take a moment to SIT and SOAK in these wonderful promises in Christ. You may be poor by the world's standard's but by the higher standard of God, YOU ARE RICH (2 Cor 8:9), all you in whom the Spirit has opened your eyes and placed you in Christ Jesus! And this inheritance is FOREVER - see 1 Peter 1:4+). Rom 8:17+ and if children (Ro 8:16), heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. (Satan tempts us with a crown but the end is suffering. God's plan is suffering now and a crown in the future. No cross, no crown!) Eph 1:11+ also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, Eph 1:14+ who is given as a pledge (arrabon = earnest, down payment!) of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession (When we were saved, we were redeemed, set free by the blood of Christ from the power and penalty of sin = past tense REDEMPTION = JUSTIFICATION, but beloved the best is yet to come when we will be saved from the presence of sin - cp Eph 4:30 = Future tense REDEMPTION = GLORIFICATION), to the praise of His glory. Col 1:12+ giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified (hikanoo = made us adequate) us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Heb 9:15+ And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. JamES 2:5+ Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love (present tense = continually = not perfection [or none of us would qualify!] but as the general direction of our life) Him? 1Pe 1:4-note to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, Acts 20:32+ "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (perfect tense = past completed action with ongoing [forever] effects!) Related Resource: What is our inheritance in Christ? THE SPIRIT SETS US APART FROM THE WORLD AND WHOLLY UNTO GOD Those who have been sanctified - It is important to note the tense of the verb sanctified is perfect tense which describes a past action at a point in time (the moment we were born again by grace through faith by the Spirit's work) with ongoing effect or result. So even the tense supports the common saying (used I fear too loosely to give assurance to those who may have just "professed" faith but never shown any change in the behavior or lifestyle to validate their receipt of a new heart and the indwelling Holy Spirit) "ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED!" The perfect tense supports that is a once and forever occurrence and gives us an assurance of salvation! Notice also that sanctified is in the passive voice which signifies that act of setting us apart is the result of the supernatural work of an external power, specifically the soteriological (salvific) work of the Holy Spirit. We were like a drowning may who put his hand up out of the water and the folks nearby grabbed the hand and lifted him to safety (this actually occurred to me as a young boy). But even this is not a completely accurate picture, because even our act of reaching out for the "life raft" of the Spirit was a work initiated and empowered by the Spirit. And yet we still had to exert an act of our will to follow through. This is the mysterious but very real interaction between God's sovereign working and our free will! I won't even pretend to try to explain how this works but they are "good friends" and no one tries to separate "good friends." Perhaps in eternity the Father will unfold the manifold mysteries of our salvation. Have been sanctified (hagiazo) means that we have been "set apart" which is the idea inherent in the meaning of a saint (hagios). We have been set apart by the Spirit from the spiritual darkness of Satan's kingdom to the spiritual light of Christ's Kingdom. That is our (forever) position, but our high position in Christ calls for daily holy practice in the power of the Spirit of Christ. This begs the question beloved are you walking in the light and the power of Christ in you the hope of glory? Are you diligently seeking to avoid the ever increasing spiritual darkness of this fallen, evil, anti-God world system (it's difficult to avoid I realize, which is why we need more than ever to daily depend on the enabling power of the Holy Spirit Who will guide us into paths of righteousness for His Namesake.)? Have been sanctified (37)(hagiazo from hagios = holy, set apart) means to set apart for God, to sanctify, to make a person or thing (in the OT altars, days, priests, etc were set apart) the opposite of koinos, which means profane or common. Hiebert - The primary meaning of sanctify is "to set apart, to consecrate," but it also carries the thought of the resultant holiness of character in the consecrated. The note of holiness was already sounded in 1 Th 3:13, 4 :3-8. (Hiebert, D. Edmond: 1 & 2 Thessalonians: BMH Book. 1996) Having once been set aside now daily continually allowing the Spirit to turn us from darkness to light...that is why it is so critical that we are the light of God's truth every day of our life...we are ever vulnerable to lies and deception...angels of light and lusts of our flesh. But by faith, believing in God's Word, trusting (obeying) no matter what the circumstances looks like (God has the only eternal perspective) or what God has sent or allowed, that momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. Sanctified cross references: Act 20:32+ "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ("all those who are saved.") John 17:17 "Sanctify (Command) them in the truth; Thy word is truth. (Jesus' prayer for us today. From this prayer what is God's part? What is our part? How important is it to be in the Living Word DAILY so that God's very breathed WORD might be at home in our heart! The Spirit takes that WORD and transforms us -- sets us apart as it were -- 2 Cor 3:18). 1Co 1:2 to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified ("Past Tense Salvation" = Justification) in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: 1Co 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 1Co 6:11 And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified ("Past Tense Salvation" = Justification), but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. Titus 3:5 He saved us ("Past Tense Salvation" = Justification), not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Heb 10:10 By this will we have been sanctified (perfect tense = once and forever [= assurance of salvation!] set apart! = "Past tense salvation") through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Heb 10:14+ For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are (present tense = being daily = "Present tense salvation" - could be better translated "those who are daily being set apart" = Progressive Sanctification) sanctified. Rev 21:27+ and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life (AKA the "sanctified" ones). SPIRITUAL EYES ARE OPENED BY FAITH IN JESUS Faith (4102)(pistis) is firm persuasion, conviction, belief in the truth, veracity, reality or faithfulness. Not just mental assent but firm conviction, surrender to that truth and conduct emanating fr that surrender. In sum, faith shows itself genuine by a changed life. Faith (4102) (pistis) is synonymous with trust or belief and is the conviction of the truth of anything, but in Scripture usually speaks of belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it. Note that this discussion of pistis is only an overview and not a detailed treatise of this vitally important subject. Those interested are directed to respected, conservative books on systematic theology for more in depth discussion (eg, Dr Wayne Grudem's book here) is an excellent, uncompromising, imminently readable resource for the lay person. See especially Chapter 35 which addresses the question "What is saving faith?" in an easy to understand manner.) Much of this "definition" deals with the general word group for faith (pistis = noun, pistos = adjective, pisteuo = verb) As pistis relates to God, it is the conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things well as the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ. As faith relates to Christ it represents a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation and entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. Stated another way, eternal salvation comes only through belief in Jesus Christ and no other way. Acts 16:31; Jn 3:14-17; 6:69; Ro 3:21-28; 4:5; 5:1; 9:30;10:9-11;Gal 2:16; 3:11, 24; Eph 2:8, 9; Phil 3:9 By faith cross references: Acts 13:39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. Acts 15:9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Acts 16:31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” John 3:14-17 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. 16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water. " John 7:39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Ro 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Ro 5:2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Gal 2:20+ "For through the Law I died to the Law, that I might live to God. Gal 3:2+ This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Gal 3:14+ in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Eph 2:8+ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Heb 11:6+ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Chuck Smith - Acts 26:18 I. "TO OPEN THEIR EYES." A. The correct assumption is that men's eyes are closed. The Bible speaks of a spiritual blindness. 1. Paul spoke of those in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Co 4:4-note) being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart (Eph 4:18-note) 2. One of Satan's strategies is to blind a person to the reality of their own condition. a. Look how long it takes an alcoholic to admit it, some never do. 1. To everyone else it is so obvious. 2. Their family and friends all know it. 3. They keep insisting that there is no problem they can quit any time they want to. b. Rarely do you hear a person admitting to a drug addiction. 1. You don't hear them say, "I am a dope fiend." 2. Or "I am a drug addict." 3. They may admit to having a slight problem with drugs, but they somehow feel that they are still in control, when the truth is they are hopelessly addicted. c. People are blind to the fact that one day they will stand before God and have to give an account for their sins. 1. They feel that death is the end of all existence. The Bible says "and inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment," (Heb 9:27) 2. There are those who somehow feel that their good works will placate the wrath of God against their sin. The Bible says that our good works or righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of God (Isa 64:6KJV). 3. Paul asked in his letter to the Romans, "Do you think that you shall escape the judgment of God?" (Ro 2:3) d. They are blind to the fact that unless a person is born again they will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Jn 3:3-5) 1. The gate is much narrower than man has been led to believe. Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Mt 7:13-14) 2. It is true that all religions lead to god, but not God the Father, the creator of the Universe. There is only one way, and that is Jesus Christ who said, "“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (Jn 14:6) 3. The way to heaven is not as easy as they think or they try to make it. 1 Co 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice (prasso in the present tense = as their unabated, habitual practice, their lifestyle, not occasions episodes of sin which even believers experience. NB: As this verse teaches "Practice" DO NOT may perfect but instead assures that one is perfectly lost forever!) such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Eph 5:5-note For this you know (command to know) with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 3. A person living in sin is to be greatly pitied for he is walking in darkness, and does not realize that he is on the road to hell. John wrote 1 Jn 2:11-note But the one who hates (present tense) his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. B. If your eyes have been opened to the truth of God, then they have been opened to the truth about yourself. 1. It is seeing myself in the light of God or His Son Jesus Christ that is so important. 2. If we compare ourselves with others, we may not fare too bad. 3. If you compare ourselves with Jesus then we must admit that we are hopeless undone. a. Isaiah, "In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple....Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” (Isa 6:1, 5-note) b. When Peter realized who Jesus was he said, "Depart from me for I am a sinful man." (Luke 5:8) c. Daniel describes the effect of his great vision of the Lord, he said, "My beauty turned into corruption." (Ed: Correction - Probably referring to Satan's self-deception described in Ezekiel 28:17KJV). 4. Paul said that those who were measuring themselves with themselves, or comparing themselves with themselves were not wise. (2 Cor 10:12KJV) C. The first work of the Spirit of God in our lives is to open our eyes to the truth. 1. The truth about God. 2. The truth about ourselves. II. TO TURN THEM FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT. A. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of light and life. B. The world today is wrapped up in the kingdom of darkness. 1. When Paul was writing to the Colossians he thanked God for making us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light delivering us from the power of darkness, that He might translate us into the kingdom of His Son. 2. I am appalled at the darkness in the world today. a. I cannot conceive the things that are being reported in the news media. b. I cannot imagine a father sexually abusing his own little daughter. c. I cannot imagine the darkness of a man's mind who would make love to another man. d. I cannot conceive the millions of babies that are being destroyed in our land today by government consent, and many times government subsidies. e. That same government will fine you heavily and possibly imprison you if you destroy an eagles egg, or kill a kangaroo rat. f. There is something radically wrong with a government that will protect an unborn eagle, but not a unborn child. That puts the life of a rat above that of a child. 3. Surely the whole world is lost in the darkness of sin. C. Paul was commanded by Jesus to bring men into the light. 1. Darkness is a symbol for evil. 2. Light is a symbol for purity. 3. To the Ephesians Paul said, Eph 5:8-note for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (Ed note - Paul did NOT say they were IN darkness but that they WERE darkness! Woe!) 4. Jesus said that "men loved the darkness rather than the light; for (Ed: term of explanation - explains how you can discern their love of darkness, their dark heart is disclosed by their dark deeds!) their deeds were evil.". D. There is always that sharp contrast, and you are either walking in darkness or in light. III. THE POWER OF SATAN UNTO GOD. A. You were at one time held by the power of Satan. You were a slave to sin. B. Jesus died that He might redeem you from your slavery to sin. Paul said in Romans 6 beginning with verse 16, don't you realize that whoever you yield yourselves servants to obey, you become their slave? Whether it is to sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness. Thank God, that though you were the slaves of sin, now because you have obeyed from the heart that doctrine which was delivered you. You have been freed from sin and have become the servants of righteousness. For even as you once yielded your bodies as slaves of uncleanness, and iniquity, even so now yield your bodies as servants of righteousness unto holiness. For when you were the servants of sin, you had no righteousness. You have no fruit in those things of which you are now ashamed, for the end of those things is death. Now that you have been made free from your slavery to sin, you have become the servants of God. The fruit of your new life is holiness and the final result is everlasting life. 1. Jesus said, "Whoever sins, becomes a slave to sin." 2. Speaking of false teachers Peter said, "While they promise you liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption, for by whatsoever a man is overcome, of the same he is brought into slavery." 3. John is even stronger for he wrote, "He that practices sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. This is the reason God sent His Son into the world, that He might destroy the works of the devil." a. Jesus and only Jesus can free you from the hold that sin has on your life. b. The Bible says that if the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed. c. Would you like to be free from those evil desires that have brought you into bondage? d. This is what the gospel is all about. 4. Opening a persons eyes to the truth, bringing them out of darkness into the light, freeing them from the power of the devil that they might become the servants of God. Oswald Chambers - The opened sight To open their eyes, … that they may receive … Acts 26:18 This verse is the grandest condensation of the propaganda of a disciple of Jesus Christ in the whole of the New Testament. The first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words—“that they may receive remission of sins.” When a man fails in personal Christian experience, it is nearly always because he has never received anything. The only sign that a man is saved is that he has received something from Jesus Christ. Our part as workers for God is to open men’s eyes that they may turn themselves from darkness to light; but that is not salvation, that is conversion—the effort of a roused human being. I do not think it is too sweeping to say that the majority of nominal Christians are of this order; their eyes are opened, but they have received nothing. Conversion is not regeneration. This is one of the neglected factors in our preaching today. When a man is born again, he knows that it is because he has received something as a gift from Almighty God and not because of his own decision. People register their vows, and sign their pledges, and determine to go through, but none of this is salvation. Salvation means that we are brought to the place where we are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ, viz., remission of sins. Then there follows the second mighty work of grace—“and inheritance among them which are sanctified.” In sanctification the regenerated soul deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ, and identifies himself entirely with God’s interest in other men. Adrian Rogers - If you put your faith in faith, you're a sitting duck for the devil. He will come to you and say, "You're not good enough to be saved." You say, "I know it, but I don't have faith in myself." The devil then says, "There are hypocrites in the church." And you say, "I'm not putting my faith in hypocrites, I'm trusting the Lord." The devil will say to you, "But you don't feel like you should." And you say, "I'm not trusting my feelings. I'm trusting the Lord." As long as your faith is securely in Jesus, the devil can say what he wants, but he cannot defeat you John Wesley's desire to "open their eyes" - During his ministry John Wesley rode over 250,000 miles on horseback, a distance equal to ten circuits of the globe along the equator. He preached over 40,000 sermons Acts 26:18 Open Their Eyes By Vernon C. Grounds Open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light. —Acts 26:18 Do you agree with the apostle Paul that nature bears witness to the wisdom and power of God the Creator? (Acts 14:15-17; Rom. 1:20). Or do you think that everything accidentally evolved? According to astronomer and writer Carl Sagan, “Nature does not require a Designer. Maybe there is one hiding, maddeningly unwilling to be revealed.” As believers in Christ, we are saddened by people’s inability to see the fingerprint of God everywhere in the world (Ps. 19). Many also do not believe that God has revealed Himself in His Son Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-3). They disagree with the Scriptures which declare that the light of the knowledge of God’s glory shines in the Savior’s face (2 Cor. 4:6) and with our Lord’s positive declaration: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9). If the Lord has opened the eyes of our understanding so that we believe in Him, we can only humbly thank Him for His grace. Because we have done nothing to merit God’s mercy, we need to keep praying that the almighty Designer will do for unbelieving skeptics what He has done for us: “Open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light” (Acts 26:18). Talk to God about the lost—then talk to the lost about God. The Moment I Knew I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light. —Acts 26:17-18 The lights dimmed on the platform as Tom Whittaker began to sing the words of “Mary, Did You Know?” The steady, quiet strumming of his guitar beautifully complemented his calm, deep voice. His wife, Gloria, says that the first time she heard him sing that song, she realized she was in love with him. Many people who know Jesus as Savior can point to a specific moment when they suddenly grasped the extent of God’s amazing love for them. At that instant, they got it. Ray Boltz describes it in song: The moment it happened, It was the moment I knew; It was like walking in the darkness When the light comes shining through. Paul had such a moment on the Damascus Road. His first encounter with Jesus transformed him from a fierce persecutor of Christians to the first great missionary. Spurred on by this eye-opening experience, Paul’s newfound love for the Savior compelled him to share the gospel with everyone he met (Acts 26). Perhaps you know about Christ but have never trusted Him for salvation. John wrote, “We know that we have passed from death to life” (1 John 3:14). But that statement applies only to those who look to Jesus for forgiveness. Because of God’s love, you too can “receive forgiveness of sins” through Jesus Christ (Acts 26:18) and be “born again” (John 3:3). The moment is now. It’s one thing to know there is a God; it’s quite another to know the God who is. By Cindy Hess Kasper WITH CHRIST AT CALVARY - James Smith In Darkness. Sitting in Darkness, Luke 1:78-79 Hanging in Darkness, Matt. 27:45-46 Called Out of Darkness, 1 Peter 2:9 Turned from Darkness, Acts 26:18 Four Scriptures which have a close connection with each other, as we shall see in the course of our meditation. I. Sitting in Darkness (Luke 1:78, 79-note). With glee some Bible critics have pointed out here a supposed inaccuracy. "See," say they, "how Zacharias, filled with the Holy Ghost, misquotes Scripture!" This they say on the supposition that he was quoting Isaiah 9:2. But Zacharias did not say so. He was so saturated with Scripture that, on examining his utterance, we find that he was quoting from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Malachi. As a matter of fact there are in Isaiah two special Scriptures on darkness—1st, one on Walking in Darkness (Isa 9:2). But 29 years later, the prophet spake on Sitting in Darkness (Isa 42:7). It is a picture of deterioration and degeneration, and in our Lord's day it had come true. Once, though in darkness, they exercised an element of freedom and unsettlement and dissatisfaction, for they walked in darkness; now, in fast and fatal bondage, they sit in a dark and loathsome dungeon. Allow this picture language to grip you. The late Dr. Jowett has so graphically drawn attention to it. "Sitting in darkness!" Try to realise it. You sit by the fireside on a winter's night, with a bright fire making the room genial and warm. You sit on, until the fire burns low, and eventually dies out, and the warmth gives place to a searching chill. Then the lamp goes out, and darkness is added to coldness. But you still sit on, and terrible bondage becomes yours. And there are people whose soul-life is just like that. There is no fire in the grate, and their light is gone out, and they abide in cold and dreary desolation, and hard bondage. It was not ever thus. Once there was a fire in the grate, and a bright light showing and shining. The soul of man was lighted by the presence of the Holy Spirit, and wanned by the fact and presence of Divine love. But sin changed all this. Sometimes a darkened room helps an invalid to recover health, but a darkened soul is the result of a spiritual catastrophe, and betokens the presence of a dead spirit, a lifeless soul. Job speaks of "a land where the light is as darkness." SITTING IN DARKNESS. This is either a picture of enjoyment, contentment, or enslavement and despondency, or all. II. Hanging in Darkness (Matt. 27:45, 46). Have you ever connected Sitting in Darkness with Hanging in Darkness? There is a very close connection. If we had never walked or sat in the darkness of sin, He would never had found it necessary to have hung in darkness. He hung in darkness to atone for our sin, and to make it possible for us to sit in light—the light of His presence and love. The solar darkness He experienced, was an emblem of soul-darkness He endured on our account. III. Called Out of Darkness (1 Peter 2:9). This declares that for those sitting in darkness God has a tender regard. That, for them, "a Day-spring from on High hath visited us." That also a voice is heard, calling out of the darkness. IV. Turned from Darkness (Acts 26:18). Do you say: "I hear the voice calling me out of darkness, but I am chained fast, and cannot respond." Well, for you there is hope, for there is One Who will turn you out of darkness, for He can liberate you from the fetters of sin, and lead you right out into liberty. (Handfuls of Purpose) Acts 26:19 "So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, NET Acts 26:19 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, GNT Acts 26:19 Ὅθεν, βασιλεῦ Ἀγρίππα, οὐκ ἐγενόμην ἀπειθὴς τῇ οὐρανίῳ ὀπτασίᾳ NLT Acts 26:19 "And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. KJV Acts 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: ESV Acts 26:19 "Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, CSB Acts 26:19 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. NIV Acts 26:19 "So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. NKJ Acts 26:19 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, NRS Acts 26:19 "After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, YLT Acts 26:19 'Whereupon, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, NAB Acts 26:19 "And so, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. NJB Acts 26:19 'After that, King Agrippa, I could not disobey the heavenly vision. GWN Acts 26:19 "At that point I did not disobey the vision I saw from heaven, King Agrippa. BBE Acts 26:19 So, then, King Agrippa, I did not go against the vision from heaven; So, King Agrippa. Acts 26:2, 26, 27. I did not. Ex. 4:13, 14. Isa 50:5. Jer 20:9. Ezek 2:7, 8; 3:14. Jon. 1:3. Gal 1:16. Alexander
Atos 26
Wiersbe comments "It is one thing to have a great beginning, with visions and voices, but quite another thing to keep on going, especially when the going is tough. The fact that Paul continued was proof of his conversion and evidence of the faithfulness of God. He was saved by God’s grace and enabled to serve by God’s grace (1 Cor. 15:10+). The one word that best summarizes Paul’s life and ministry is “witnessing” (see Acts 26:16). He simply shared with others what he had learned and experienced as a follower of Jesus Christ. His message was not something he manufactured, for it was based solidly on the Old Testament Scriptures." (Bible Exposition Commentary) Stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place - Paul based his arguments for the Gospel on the OT prophecies. Under the illuminating ministry of the Holy Spirit, Paul was able to see Jesus on all the pages of the Old Testament. In short he knew Messianic Prophecies. The Prophets and Moses said was going to take place - Recall the NT was not available to Paul (he was writing it!) but the Old Testament was (almost every use of the word "Scriptures" in the NT = the OT Scriptures). The phrase "was going to take place" indicates that Paul's approach to the presentation of the Gospel and the background for the Gospel was OT prophecy, especially prophecy that predicted the Messiah Who would suffer and die and be resurrected (Acts 26:23) (See Messianic Prophecies). Jesus also appealed to and explained the OT Messianic Prophecies. Wouldn't you love to have been there listening to Word Himself explaining the OT prophecies about Himself! Luke 24:27+ Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:44+ Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Luke 24:46+ and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, John MacArthur also makes the point that "By placing himself in the line of Moses and the other Old Testament writers, Paul again stressed that Christianity is not heretical but the fulfillment of Scripture." (Ibid) Acts 26:19-32 The Best Place To Witness By Dennis J. De Haan I stand, witnessing both to small and great. —Acts 26:22 Missionary Doug Nichols and his Filipino co-worker Aries went to a Manila garbage dump, asking God how they might effectively reach the poor who scavenged there. Soon an old man approached and asked if they would guard his handful of cans while he hunted for more. Doug asked the man how old he was, since it’s respectful in the Philippines to ask older people their age. “Oh, it’s wonderful you asked,” replied the man with a big smile. “I’m 78 years old today.” Aries and Doug sang “Happy Birthday,” then shook his hand and gave him a hug. “Are you prepared to go to heaven?” asked Doug. When the man indicated that he wasn’t sure, Doug shared the gospel. That day the garbage-dump resident trusted Jesus and became a citizen of heaven. The apostle Paul had an opportunity to witness to a governor, a king, and prominent citizens (Acts 25-26). We don’t know the results of his witness, but Paul was faithful where God had placed him. Go to the lost, in the home, in the mart, Waiting no longer, today make a start; Tell them of Jesus who died in their place, Share the good news of salvation by grace. —HGB Any place can be the right place to witness. Acts 26:23 that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." NET Acts 26:23 that the Christ was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles." GNT Acts 26:23 εἰ παθητὸς ὁ Χριστός, εἰ πρῶτος ἐξ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν φῶς μέλλει καταγγέλλειν τῷ τε λαῷ καὶ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν. NLT Acts 26:23 that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God's light to Jews and Gentiles alike." KJV Acts 26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. ESV Acts 26:23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles." CSB Acts 26:23 that the Messiah must suffer, and that as the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles." NIV Acts 26:23 that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles." NKJ Acts 26:23 "that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." NRS Acts 26:23 that the Messiah must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles." YLT Acts 26:23 that the Christ is to suffer, whether first by a rising from the dead, he is about to proclaim light to the people and to the nations.' NAB Acts 26:23 that the Messiah must suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles." NJB Acts 26:23 that the Christ was to suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he was to proclaim a light for our people and for the gentiles.' GWN Acts 26:23 They said that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to come back to life and would spread light to Jewish and non-Jewish people." BBE Acts 26:23 That the Christ would go through pain, and being the first to come back from the dead, would give light to the people and to the Gentiles. Christ. Ge. 3:15. Ps 22, Ps 69. Isa 53. Da 9:24–26. Zech 12:10; 13:7. Lu. 18:31–38; Lk 24:26, 46. 1 Co. 15:3. the first. Acts 26:8; Acts 2:23–32; 13:34. Ps 16:8–11. Isa 53:10–12. Mt 27:53. Jn 10:18; 11:25. 1 Co. 15:20–23. Col. 1:18. Rev 1:5. He would be the first to proclaim light See Acts 26:18. Lu. 2:32. Acts 13:47 Mt 4:16 Paul Before Agrippa - Video - 7 minutes Acts 26 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries THE GOSPEL SUMMARIZED That the Christ was to suffer - Paul was referencing the OT Messianic Prophecies that spoke of Messiah's suffering. See comments on Isaiah 53 (cf Ps 22:1-31) Suffer (Only here in NT)(3805)(pathetos from pascho) one who has suffered or is subject to suffering. Friberg says "in the case of Christ destined to suffer." This adjective is the first word in the Greek sentence for emphasis. Longenecker - Despite occasional claims to the contrary, there is no evidence that pre-Christian Judaism ever thought of the Messiah in terms of suffering....the proclamation of both a suffering Messiah and the resurrection of Jesus were distinctive to early Christianity. To these foundation tenets of the early faith, Paul, by revelation (cf. Gal 1:11-12; Eph 3:1-6), added the legitimacy of a direct outreach to Gentiles. Indeed, such features of the Christian message went beyond the explicit beliefs and expectations of Judaism. But Paul's claim was that they were developments brought about by God himself to show the true intent of Israelite religion and in continuity with all that the prophets and Moses said would happen. (Expositor's Bible Commentary) The Christ (5547)(Christos from chrio = to rub or anoint, consecrate to an office) means one who has been anointed, symbolizing appointment to a task. The majority of the NT uses refer to Jesus (exceptions = "false Christs" - Mt 24:24, Mk 13:22). The Messiah was prophesied to suffer even in the first mention of the "Gospel" (protoevangelium) - And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” (Ge 3:15-note) Related Resources: Messiah - Anointed One What is the passion (suffering) of Christ? And that by reason of His resurrection from the dead - This is the Gospel in a nutshell (cp 1 Co 15:3-4) - Messiah's death, burial (implied) and resurrection from the dead. See Ps. 16:10; Acts 13:30–37. NOTE: The NAS is not a good translation here for it suggests Jesus was the first to proclaim. The other versions uniformly render it that Jesus was the first to rise from the dead. Christ’s resurrection is the first of many more to come in the general resurrection and is a kind of first-fruits of the future harvest. There were other resurrections (e.g., Lazarus) but so Christ's resurrection is "first" in that it was the foremost, the most important, the most prominent. The related word firstborn (prototokos) describes His primacy in the resurrection... 1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. Col. 1:15–16+ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn (prototokos) of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. Rev. 1:5+. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn (prototokos) of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood–See 1 Cor. 15:20; ; Resurrection (386)(anastasis from ana = up, again + histemi = to cause to stand) literally means “to stand again" or "to cause to stand again" and most NT uses refer to a physical body rising from the dead or coming back to life after having once died. The resurrection is distinguished from reincarnation, which is imaginatively said to involve a series of rebirths from which the soul may seek release. Resurrection has primary reference to the body. The resurrection is the central, defining doctrine and claim of the gospel for as Paul wrote "if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain." (1Cor 15:14) Anastasis in Acts - Acts 1:22; Acts 2:31; Acts 4:2; Acts 4:33; Acts 17:18; Acts 17:32; Acts 23:6; Acts 23:8; Acts 24:15; Acts 24:21; Acts 26:23; Related Resources: Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important? Why is the truth of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ so important? When will the Resurrection take place? Why should I believe in Christ's resurrection? What is the first resurrection? What is the second resurrection? Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ true? What is more important, the death of Christ or His resurrection? NET Note - Note how the context of Paul's gospel message about Jesus, resurrection, and light both to Jews and to the Gentiles is rooted in the prophetic message of the OT scriptures. Paul was guilty of following God's call and preaching the scriptural hope. To proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles - Simeon (Lk 2:25+) describes Christ as "A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel.” (Lk 2:32+) Isaiah prophesies of the light that the Messiah will bring Isaiah 9:1-2+ But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them Isaiah 42:6 “I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, Isaiah 49:6 He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Proclaim (present tense)(2605)(kataggello from kata = an intensifier, down + aggelos = messenger and aggello = to declare, report) literally means to "declare down". It means to announce, with focus upon the extent to which the announcement or proclamation extends and so to proclaim throughout implying broad dissemination.. It means to declare plainly, openly and loudly! It was used of solemn religious messages. Light (5457) phos) is used figuratively here to describe divine illumination or understanding given to the spirit and soul of human beings (Mt 4.16) Phos in Acts - Acts 9:3; Acts 12:7; Acts 13:47; Acts 16:29; Acts 22:6; Acts 22:9; Acts 22:11; Acts 26:13; Acts 26:18; Acts 26:23 THOUGHT - Paul loved to tell the story. Do you love to tell the story? When was the last time you intentionally spoke to an unsaved soul about Jesus? This is a privilege you will have only in the short life, but one you can enjoy eternally, for very likely some that you tell the old, old story will be there with you forever! May God our Father grant us all Spirit filled boldness to tell the old, old story in Jesus' Name. Amen Katherine Hankey wrote a great old hymn that should motivate all of us to tell the story... I love to tell the story Of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, Of Jesus and His love. I love to tell the story, Because I know ’tis true; It satisfies my longings As nothing else can do. REFRAIN: I love to tell the story, ’Twill be my theme in glory To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love. I love to tell the story; More wonderful it seems Than all the golden fancies Of all my golden dreams, I love to tell the story, It did so much for me; And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee. I love to tell the story; ’Tis pleasant to repeat What seems each time I tell it, More wonderfully sweet. I love to tell the story; For some have never heard The message of salvation From God’s own holy Word. I love to tell the story; For those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting To hear it like the rest. And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, ’Twill be the old, old story, That I have loved so long. Robert Neighbour - Paul's Confession of Faith "That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles" (Acts 26:23). There were three great truths that Paul preached. These he brings out in this epitome of his life, before King Agrippa. Let us notice them. 1. He preached Christ's death, "witnessing * * none other things than those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come, that Christ should suffer." The poor sinner sitting under the ministry of Paul was sure to hear the way of salvation. He was not left to some stirring appeal for self-assertion or self-negation as the basis of salvation. Paul preached that Christ died for our sins. He gloried in the Cross of Christ. He preached with the Blood in the basin. 2. He preached Christ's resurrection. "And that He should be the first that should rise from the dead." Paul preached the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He preached it gladly, believingly and fearlessly. He preached it as the great joy note, and as the sustaining power of the Gospel. He preached that Christ should be the first that should rise; he preached of the resurrection that should follow. Paul never relegated the resurrection of Christ, the firstfruits, and the resurrection of saints, to an annual Easter discourse. He preached it always, preached it everywhere. He knew that apart from the resurrection, the Gospel lost its power; everything was staked in the resurrection of Christ; everything was in anticipation of the resurrection of believers. 3. He preached Christ's coming again. (1) This is suggested in the words, "A light unto the people and to the Gentiles." "The people" refers to Israel, and "the Gentiles" refers to everybody else. To be sure there was a partial fulfillment of the shining of this light in the days of Paul, there is a larger fulfillment during the age in which we are now living, but the completed fulfillment waits the return of the Lord. This completed fulfillment the Apostle Paul preached. We know he preached it. Whether at Ephesus, at Thessalonica, or at Philippi, or, wherever he preached, Paul preached Christ — Christ coming again, and the blaze of light that shall then girdle the world. (2) This is also suggested earlier in the chapter. In verses 6 and 7 we read, "And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come." The Jewish fathers believed in the Messianic hope — They believed in the restoration of Israel to the land. When Paul was saved he saw how intimately related this promise was to the Second Coming of Christ. He became at once the herald of the Lord's return, and of His reign on the Davidic throne. The Second Coming of Christ held a large place in the ministry of Paul. Acts 26:24 While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad." NET Acts 26:24 As Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed loudly, "You have lost your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!" GNT Acts 26:24 Ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἀπολογουμένου ὁ Φῆστος μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ φησιν, Μαίνῃ, Παῦλε· τὰ πολλά σε γράμματα εἰς μανίαν περιτρέπει. NLT Acts 26:24 Suddenly, Festus shouted, "Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!" KJV Acts 26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. ESV Acts 26:24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind." CSB Acts 26:24 As he was making his defense this way, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, "You're out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad!" NIV Acts 26:24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane." NKJ Acts 26:24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!" NRS Acts 26:24 While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, "You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!" YLT Acts 26:24 And, he thus making a defence, Festus with a loud voice said, 'Thou art mad, Paul; much learning doth turn thee mad;' NAB Acts 26:24 While Paul was so speaking in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "You are mad, Paul; much learning is driving you mad." NJB Acts 26:24 He had reached this point in his defence when Festus shouted out, 'Paul, you are out of your mind; all that learning of yours is driving you mad.' GWN Acts 26:24 As Paul was defending himself in this way, Festus shouted, "Paul, you're crazy! Too much education is driving you crazy!" BBE Acts 26:24 And when he made his answer in these words, Festus said in a loud voice, Paul, you are off your head; your great learning has made you unbalanced. While paul was saying Acts 22:1. Festus. Acts 17:32; 24:25; 25:19, 20. Paul. Acts 26:11. 2 Ki. 9:11. Jer 29:26. Ho. 9:7. Mk 3:21. Jn 8:48, 52; 10:20, 21. 1 Co. 1:23; 2:13, 14; 4:10. 2 Co. 5:13. The Nature of Enthusiasm - John Wesley Paul and Festus - A Contrast - Bishop Lightfoot The Upper Classes - William Arnot Paul Before Agrippa - Video - 7 minutes Acts 26 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries "PAUL YOU ARE CRAZY OVER THIS JESUS!" While Paul was saying this in his defense - The verb apologeomai means he was speaking in his own defense against charges that were false. Apologia was a technical word used in the Greek law courts and was used of an attorney who talked his client off from a charge preferred against him. In short it refers to a speech given in defense. Apologeomai in NT- Lk. 12:11; Lk. 21:14; Acts 19:33; Acts 24:10; Acts 25:8; Acts 26:1; Acts 26:2; Acts 26:24; Rom. 2:15; 2 Co. 12:19 Festus said in a loud voice - The Greek is picturesque for it is "megas" and "phone" which pictures Festus as loud as a megaphone! Festus could not take any more spiritual "edification"! Surely the Holy Spirit was convicting Festus. Longenecker comments that "no sensible Roman could believe in the resurrection of a man from the dead—and even if he did privately accept such a strange view, he would not allow it to interfere with his practical living or bring him into danger of death. Paul, Festus concluded, was so learned in his Jewish traditions that he had become utterly impractical. Such talk was the height of insanity. Down through the ages Festus's response has been echoed by men and women too trapped by the natural to be open to the supernatural, too confined by the "practical" to care about life everlasting." (EBC) John G. Butler wrote, “Festus attacks the mind of Paul. Because Festus does not understand what Paul is saying, he insults the mentality of Paul. The problem, however, was not the mentality of Paul, but the spirituality of Festus.” Jack Andrews - The world without Jesus Christ is mad—they have no spiritual equilibrium or spiritual sense! Festus, in his human reasoning, states what he thinks is Paul’s trouble. He thinks that Paul’s extensive training and studying and learning has driven him mad. Festus is saying “Paul you are out of your mind! You are crazy!” “You are not making any sense!” The world has and will often think that sold out, heaven bound, Spirit filled Christians are crazy and mad! The family of the Lord Jesus thought He was out of His mind. (See Mk 3:20-21) My uncle would tell me when I first was saved that I was out of my mind. I was taking this religion thing too far. He would mock at me and did not understand how and why I would turn my life over to Jesus Christ. (Jack Andrews Expository Studies – Understanding Acts - Volume 7) Paul, you are out of your mind - This is the verb mainomai (and Festus uses present tense - continually) which means to be mad, insane, besides yourself, in a frenzy, not in your right mind, thinking and reasoning in a completely irrational manner. This verb pictures a person speaking and acting in such a way that they appear to others that they are "out of their mind" or "lost their senses." In fact cach occurrence of mainomai in the New Testament uses the term as hyperbole. Larkin - Paul is preaching for a decision with convincing conviction, and the only way Festus can rationalize his rejection is to declare the messenger mad and his message gibberish. Festus's reaction is instructive for Luke's audience. Their initial response might well be the same. And how many today, with their "commonsense" approach to life, would react as Festus did? It is obviously not the response Paul or Luke is looking for. (The IVP New Testament Commentary Series – Acts) Mainomai in NT - Jn. 10:20; Acts 12:15+; Acts 26:24; Acts 26:25; 1 Co. 14:23
Atos 26
Wiersbe - In his message in the temple, when Paul got to the word Gentiles, the crowd exploded (Acts 22:21–22). That is the word Paul spoke (Acts 26:23) when Festus responded and loudly accused Paul of being mad. How strange that Festus did not think Paul was mad when he was persecuting the church! (Acts 26:11) Nobody called D.L. Moody crazy when he was energetically selling shoes and making money, but when he started winning souls, people gave him the nickname “Crazy Moody.” This was not the first time Paul had been called “crazy” (2 Cor. 5:13), and he was only following in the footsteps of his Master (Mark 3:20–21; John 10:20). (Bible Exposition Commentary) Oliver Cromwell - Does a man speak foolishly? — suffer him gladly, for you are wise. Does he speak erroneously? — stop such a man's mouth with sound words which cannot be gainsaid. Does he speak truly? — rejoice in the truth. Paul explained why unredeemed men like Festus would think he was crazy writing that... the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.(1 Cor 1:18) Acts 26:24-32 Gentle Persuasion By David C. Egner We urge you . . . that you may walk properly toward those who are outside. —1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 While teaching a college writing class, I used a textbook based on Aristotle’s classic work Art of Rhetoric. He outlined three forms of persuasion that can apply to the way we witness to others about Christ. 1. Ethos (character). Henry Stanley said of Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone, “He never tried to convert me, but if I had been with him any longer I would have become a Christian.” When people around us see the reality of Christ in our lives (1 Thessalonians 4:12), our words are taken more seriously. 2. Pathos (feeling). While touring Europe, a group of students from a Christian college witnessed to their busdriver. One girl tearfully pleaded, “If you don’t accept Jesus, you’ll go to hell. Please, please trust in Jesus.” That reminds me of Paul’s impassioned plea and its effect on King Agrippa (Acts 26:28). 3. Logos (reason). When we live a holy life, we will attract attention. This will lead to questions. It’s then that we are to be ready to give reasons for what we believe, and we are to do so gently and humbly (1 Peter 3:15). Is God leading you to witness to someone? Ask for His help. One, two, or all three of these classic methods may help open the door of that person’s heart. —DCE Thinking It Over Why is your character so crucial to your witness? Do nonbelievers sense your compassion for them? Why do you believe in Christ? Have you told anyone? When you know Christ, you want others to know Him too. D L Moody - AKA "Crazy Moody" - While in Boston, D. L. Moody became a Christian under his Sunday school teacher’s guidance. When Moody was in Chicago, he found a church on the North side where he could feel at home. Over time Dwight started working with the ragamuffin boys in the neighborhood. He would go around every Sunday with candy and prizes to get the boys to come to the Wells Street mission Sunday school class. The class grew very much, so it was moved to hall where there were dances the night before. Moody had to wake up early to clean the hall before he would go and get the children to come to the class. People called Moody crazy because he was not afraid to act “crazy” to the children, so he can relate to them. Moody had over 1,000 students at one time (George). D. L. Moody was sometimes considered more of a child than any of his own class, so some people thought the name of “Crazy Moody” was accurate. Mr. Moody knew a man that only had a short time to live. This man was worried about his own Sunday school class because none of the girls made a decision for Christ to come into their lives in a personal way. Moody and this man went to each girl’s house and explained the plan of salvation to them. Afterwards, every girl in the class accepted Christ as her savior. This man was told to leave the Lake Michigan area and go to New York by his Doctor. Before the man left for New York, the class with Moody met for tea. At the end, each girl prayed for her dying teacher. These prayers spoke to Moody; he had a dilemma – to go into the ministry full-time or not. Three months later, he decided to quit selling shoes and go into the ministry full-time because of the influence of those girls. Some people did not think that a layman can do the job of an ordained minister, but Moody did not let them stop him for sharing God’s love. During the Civil War, Moody was not willing to fight in the war, but he ministered to the soldiers. At some of the wars, he was at the front line with the men and women. Some people would still call him "Crazy Moody" for being on the front line, but Moody wanted to share the love of God wherever God led him. Christian Enthusiasm, its Reasonableness Once, at Wotton, Rowland Hill was carried away by the impetuous rush of his feelings, and exclaimed, "Because I am in earnest men call me an enthusiast, but I am not; mine are the words of truth and soberness. I once saw a gravel pit fall in, and bury three human beings alive. I shouted so loud for help that I was heard at the distance of a mile; help came, and rescued two of the poor sufferers. No one called me an enthusiast then; and when I see eternal destruction ready to fall on poor sinners, and about to entomb them irrecoverably in an eternal mass of woe, and call aloud on them to escape, shall I be called an enthusiast now?" A Preacher's Sanity Questioned Acts 26:24-25 And as he thus spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are beside yourself; much learning does make you mad.… When Dr. Chalmers was converted, the change in his ministry was quickly apparent to all. The rationalists, to whose class he had belonged, commonly said: "Tom Chalmers is mad." Some years after, when he was settled in Glasgow, a lady and gentleman on their way to hear him met a friend, who asked where they were going. On being told, he said, "What! to hear that madman?" They persuaded him to go for once and do the same, promising never to dispute with him about that title again, if he were inclined to apply it to the preacher after his sermon. To the surprise of all three, when Dr. Chalmers gave out his text, it was, "I am not mad, most noble Felix, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness." The sceptical hearer was not only convinced of the preacher's sanity, but he was likewise converted to faith in Evangelical truth. Evangelistic Madness of John Berridge - Acts 26:24 And as he thus spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are beside yourself; much learning does make you mad.… As soon as John Berridge, of Everton, began to preach in a different strain from the neighbouring clergy they felt hurt at the emptiness of their own churches and the fulness of his. The squire, too, was much offended; he did not like to see so many strangers, and be so incommoded, and endeavoured to turn Mr. Berridge out of his living by a complaint to his bishop. Berridge being sent for by his lordship, was accosted thus: "Well, Berridge, they tell me you go about preaching out of your own parish; did I institute you to any other than Everton?" "No, my lord." "Well, then, you preach where you have no right to." "It is true, my lord; I remember seeing five or six clergyman out of their own parishes playing at bowls." "Pho, if you do not desist, you will very likely be sent to Huntingdon jail." "As to that, my lord, I have no greater liking to a jail than other people; but I had rather go there with a good conscience, than be at liberty with a bad one." Here his lordship, looking hard at Berridge, gravely assured him, "he was beside himself, and that in a few months he would be better or worse." "Then," said he, "my lord, you may make yourself easy in this business; for if I am better, you must suppose I shall desist of my own accord; and if worse, you need not send me to jail, as I shaft be provided with an accommodation in Bedlam. (Ed: Lord God, may his tribe increase. Amen!) If you don't know John Berridge, you need to meet him now as he will be near the front in heaven and it will take a while to hear his great stories! - Read John Berridge Biography Here is my favorite John Berridge hymn that has been put to music...JESUS CAST A LOOK ON ME Demo Mp3 by Michael Perryman Jones Play Red Mountain Music's full version on youtube 1. Jesus cast a look on me, Give me sweet simplicity Make me poor and keep me low, Seeking only Thee to know 2. All that feeds my busy pride, Cast it evermore aside Bid my will to Thine submit, Lay me humbly at Thy feet 3. Make me like a little child, Of my strength and wisdom spoiled Seeing only in Thy light, Walking only in Thy might 4. Leaning on Thy loving breast, Where a weary soul can rest Feeling well the peace of God, Flowing from His precious blood 5. In this posture let me live, And hosannas daily give In this temper let me die, And hosannas ever cry! Acts 26:25 But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth. Amplified - But Paul replied, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but I am uttering the straight, sound truth. NET Acts 26:25 But Paul replied, "I have not lost my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking true and rational words. GNT Acts 26:25 ὁ δὲ Παῦλος, Οὐ μαίνομαι, φησίν, κράτιστε Φῆστε, ἀλλὰ ἀληθείας καὶ σωφροσύνης ῥήματα ἀποφθέγγομαι. NLT Acts 26:25 But Paul replied, "I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. KJV Acts 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. ESV Acts 26:25 But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. CSB Acts 26:25 But Paul replied, "I'm not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I'm speaking words of truth and good judgment. NIV Acts 26:25 "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. NKJ Acts 26:25 But he said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. NRS Acts 26:25 But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth. YLT Acts 26:25 and he saith, 'I am not mad, most noble Festus, but of truth and soberness the sayings I speak forth; NAB Acts 26:25 But Paul replied, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and reason. NJB Acts 26:25 But Paul answered, 'Festus, your Excellency, I am not mad: I am speaking words of sober truth and good sense. GWN Acts 26:25 Paul replied, "I'm not crazy, Your Excellency Festus. What I'm saying is true and sane. BBE Acts 26:25 Then Paul said, I am not off my head, most noble Festus, but my words are true and wise. I am not out of my mind Jn 8:49. 1 Pe. 2:21–23; 3:9, 15. most excellent Festus Acts 23:26. Gr.; Acts 24:3. Lu. 1:3. Titus 1:9; 2:7, 8. Paul Before Agrippa - Video - 7 minutes Acts 26 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries PAUL IS OF SOUND MIND NOT OUT OF HIS MIND But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth - "true and rational words." He was speaking sober truth the antithesis of madness! NLT - "I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth." Kent Hughes said, “True sanity lies with the Paul’s of this world— those who build their lives on the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is mad to live, as the majority does, as though ultimate reality resides in what we can see, taste, and touch.” Out of my mind (Acts 26:24)(3105)(mainomai gives us our English "maniac") to rage, rave, be mad. This verb pictures a person speaking and acting in such a way that they appear to others that they are "out of their mind" or "lost their senses." Words (4487)(rhema from verb rheo = to speak) refers to the spoken word, especially a word as uttered by a living voice. Rhema refers to any sound produced by the voice which has a definite meaning. It focuses upon the content of the communication. Rhema is used in the great passage in Luke 1:37+ which in the old 1901 ASV reads more accurately "For no word (rhema) from God shall be void of power." Literally, "No word of God can fail." The spoken words of Peter inspired by the Spirit and empowered by the Spirit would not fail for they were full of power! Rhema in Acts - Acts 2:14; Acts 5:20; Acts 5:32; Acts 6:11; Acts 10:22; Acts 10:37; Acts 10:44; Acts 11:14; Acts 11:16; Acts 13:42; Acts 16:38; Acts 26:25; Acts 28:25; Sober (4997)(sophrosune from sophron = of sound mind, self-controlled) means mental soundness, a rationality (Acts 26:25) and good judgment, especially practice of prudence (ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason), moderation moderation of desires, passions, or conduct. Louw-Nida = to have understanding about practical matters and thus be able to act sensibly. Friberg on sophrosune - (1) as a quality of life characterized by the ability to restrain passions and impulses self-control, moderation, sensibleness ( 1Ti 2.9); (2) as intellectual soundness rationality, reasonableness, good sense (Acts 26.25) (Analytical Lexicon) Liddell-Scott on sophrosune - 1. soundness of mind, moderation, discretion, Od., Theogn., Att. 2. moderation in desires, self-control, temperance, chastity, sobriety, Lat. temperantia, modestia, Sophrosune - 3x discreetly(1), self-restraint(1), sober(1). Acts 26:25 But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth. 1 Timothy 2:9 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, 1 Timothy 2:15 But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. Gilbrant on sophrosune - Sōphrosunē is a contraction of saophrosunē found in Homer (Eighth Century B.C.). Its etymological meaning is “of sound mind,” a combination of saos (“sound, whole, healthy”) and phrenes (“mind”). In classical Greek it could denote the “rational,” what is “intellectually sound,” or “discretion,” i.e., moderation and self-control (Luck, “sōphrōn,” Kittel, 7:1097). Philosophers wrangled over the exact definition of sōphrosunē (Plato discussed it at length in his Charmides). In general, it refers “to a basic attitude which alone makes possible certain concrete modes of conduct” (Luck, ibid., 7:1098). Its main manifestation is restraint, an effort to control one’s emotions using reason. Thus, sōphrosunē is an attitude arising from within oneself and manifests itself in an outward life of moderation and self-control. An antonym in classical Greek is the word hubris (5036B), “lack of self-restraint,” which reveals itself in greed, pride, gluttony, overstepping of bounds, etc. Sōphrosunē was expected of people in the Greek world. Following Plato the Stoics classified sōphrosunē as one of the four cardinal virtues of life. In popular philosophy these virtues could be subdivided into long lists of virtue and vices (ibid., 7:1100). Sōphrosunē, when applied to women, meant self-control and restraint in sexual desires, and hence, “chastity.” In the Septuagint sōphrosunē does not appear in the canonical books. According to Luck its main Hebrew equivalent is mûsār, “discipline, correction.” (Mûsār is generally translated paideia [3672] in the Septuagint.) An analysis of mûsār, however, shows a profound difference in emphasis from sōphrosunē. According to Gilchrist mûsār denotes “correction which results in education.” The theological basis for mûsār is “grounded in the covenant relationship which Yahweh establishes with His people.” It is “education that is theocentric,” and “mûsār primarily points to a God-centered way of life, and only secondarily to ethical behavior” (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, “yās̱ar”). Thus, mûsār is restraint and discipline that originates from without, while Greek understanding of sōphrosunē arises from within. The translators of the Septuagint thus avoided the use of sōphrosunē (and its cognates, none of which appear in canonical books). Sōphrosunē only appears “in texts extant in Greek alone or giving clear evidence of Hellenistic influence” (Luck, “sōphrōn,” Kittel, 7:1100). In Philo sōphrosunē has its normal Hellenistic usage. In the noncanonical books of the Septuagint sōphrosunē appears nine times. In Esther 3:13 (Septuagint only) it is (according to Artaxerxes) a quality of Haman. He has “sound judgment” (RSV). In Wisdom of Solomon 8:7 it appears with Plato’s other cardinal virtues as a product of the teaching of personified Wisdom. The writer has combined Greek and Jewish concepts. Sōphrosunē is the result of having wisdom; wisdom is attained through instruction (paideia, 6:17). Sōphrosunē appears six times in the highly Stoic 4 Maccabees. The Greek understanding of the word predominates. Emotions hinder sōphrosunē (1:3). The writer refers to the four cardinal virtues in 1:6,18. He calls these virtues “kinds of wisdom” (1:18, RSV). Reason (logismos [3027]) rules over the emotions through “the restraining power of self-control” (1:30, RSV). He defines sōphrosunē as “mastery over desires” (1:31). The writer shows his Jewish adherence to the Law when he attributes the attainment of the virtues to study of the Law (5:16-24). Via sōphrosunē the Jew can “master all pleasures and desires” (verse 23, RSV). Thus, sōphrosunē becomes a virtue which results from instruction in the Law. In the New Testament the word group “plays a comparatively minor role.” It is “chiefly used to characterize Christian life in the world” (Luck, “sōphrōn,” Kittel, 7:1102f.). Paul employed this noun when he stood before Agrippa as well as before Festus who interrupted the speaker’s defense by accusing him of being out of his mind. He acknowledged the apostle’s abundant learning and even claimed Paul was insane precisely because of his constant study of the Scriptures. Festus’ implication was that Paul was confused because of the nature of what he studied. The apostle countered this impugning of the Old Testament by claiming that what he studied consisted of words of truth and words of soberness (sōphrosunē); that is, words that produced mental soundness, rationality, and self-control (Acts 26:25). This crucial term also occurs in Paul’s first epistle to his spiritual son Timothy. After giving instructions concerning public worship Paul instructed women to dress orderly, kosmiō (see 2860), a term which comes from the same Greek noun kosmos (2862) which means “world.” The idea is that the outward apparel should be arranged in an orderly fashion so it reflects the orderly arrangement of the redeemed soul. If this is done the clothing will manifest two things: (1) modesty, a quality which does not unnecessarily expose the human body so as to draw undue attention to itself; and (2) sobriety (sōphrosunē), which has to do with a soundness of mind that reflects scriptural discretion and chastity (1 Timothy 2:9). (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) Utter (declare)(present tense) (669)(apophtheggomai from apo = from + phtheggomai = to utter in Acts 4:18, 2 Pe 2:16, 18) means to speak, utter, declare. The word utter means to articulate audibly, either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise. Utter is the same Greek word used in Acts 2:4+ where the 120 spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave "utterance", and which is used also in Acts 2:14+ where Peter proclaimed (uttered forth) a message that was the expression of gift given by the Holy Spirit.
Atos 26
Wiersbe adds - Festus and Agrippa knew that their prisoner had a compassionate concern for them, and they could not easily escape his challenge. The best thing to do was to end the hearing, so the king stood up; and this told everybody that the audience was over.....What Agrippa and Festus did not understand was that Paul had been the judge and they had been the prisoners on trial. They had been shown the light and the way to freedom, but they had deliberately closed their eyes and returned to their sins. Perhaps they felt relieved that Paul would go to Rome and trouble them no more. The trial was over, but their sentence was still to come; and come it would. What a wonderful thing is the opportunity to trust Jesus Christ and be saved! What a terrible thing is wasting that opportunity and perhaps never having another. (Bible Exposition Commentary) Acts 26:31 and when they had gone aside, they began talking to one another, saying, "This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment." NET Acts 26:31 and as they were leaving they said to one another, "This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment." GNT Acts 26:31 καὶ ἀναχωρήσαντες ἐλάλουν πρὸς ἀλλήλους λέγοντες ὅτι Οὐδὲν θανάτου ἢ δεσμῶν ἄξιόν [τι] πράσσει ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος. NLT Acts 26:31 As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, "This man hasn't done anything to deserve death or imprisonment." KJV Acts 26:31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. ESV Acts 26:31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment." CSB Acts 26:31 and when they had left they talked with each other and said, "This man is doing nothing that deserves death or chains." NIV Acts 26:31 They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment." NKJ Acts 26:31 and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, "This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains." NRS Acts 26:31 and as they were leaving, they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment." YLT Acts 26:31 and having withdrawn, they were speaking unto one another, saying -- 'This man doth nothing worthy of death or of bonds;' NAB Acts 26:31 And after they had withdrawn they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing (at all) that deserves death or imprisonment." NJB Acts 26:31 When they had retired they talked together and agreed, 'This man is doing nothing that deserves death or imprisonment.' GWN Acts 26:31 As they were leaving, they said to each other, "This man isn't doing anything for which he deserves to die or be put in prison." BBE Acts 26:31 And when they had gone away they said to one another, This man has done nothing which might give cause for death or prison. This man. Acts 23:9, 29; 25:25; 28:18. 2 Sa. 24:17. Lu. 23:4, 14, 15. 1 Pe. 3:16; 4:14–16. Paul Before Agrippa - Video - 7 minutes Acts 26 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries And when they had gone aside, they began talking to one another, saying - "Imperfect active, describing the eager conversation of the dignitaries about Paul's wonderful speech." (Robertson) Gilbrant - It is probable too they were all feeling uncomfortable because of the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Though Paul addressed Agrippa directly, Festus was affected, and probably the others also. Paul's testimony had the ring of truth to it. They could not deny that the appearance of Christ in His resurrection glory had made a tremendous change in the apostle Paul. They did not try to deny either that the Old Testament Scriptures prophesied the death and resurrection of Jesus and upheld the truth of the gospel. These truths were in their minds, but they did not discuss them. (Ibid) This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment - Repeatedly Paul has been judged as innocent of any crime and sadly not any of them had been won to Christ. (Acts 23:9) And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” (Acts 23:29) and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment. (Acts 25:25) “But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death; and since he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him. NET Note on Not doing anything deserving death - Here is yet another declaration of Paul’s innocence, but still no release. The portrayal shows how unjust Paul’s confinement was. Deserving (514) see note above on áxios Acts 26:32 And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." NET Acts 26:32 Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar." GNT Acts 26:32 Ἀγρίππας δὲ τῷ Φήστῳ ἔφη, Ἀπολελύσθαι ἐδύνατο ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος εἰ μὴ ἐπεκέκλητο Καίσαρα. NLT Acts 26:32 And Agrippa said to Festus, "He could have been set free if he hadn't appealed to Caesar." KJV Acts 26:32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar. ESV Acts 26:32 And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." CSB Acts 26:32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar." NIV Acts 26:32 Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." NKJ Acts 26:32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." NRS Acts 26:32 Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor." YLT Acts 26:32 and Agrippa said to Festus, 'This man might have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.' NAB Acts 26:32 And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." NJB Acts 26:32 And Agrippa remarked to Festus, 'The man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.' GWN Acts 26:32 Agrippa told Festus, "This man could have been set free if he hadn't appealed his case to the emperor." appealed. Acts 25:11, 12, 25; 28:18. Paul Before Agrippa - Video - 7 minutes Acts 26 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." - That might be true, but Festus should have already freed him even before his appeal to Caesar and the angry bloodthirsty Jews were just waiting for the Romans to set him free so they could kill him. And recall that Paul was forced to appeal because Festus was seeking to shift the trial to Jerusalem. His appeal is described in Acts 25:11, 12, 25. The question arises then, did Festus have something to write to the Emperor concerning why he is sending Paul? Agrippa does not seem to give him anything to write with a comment such as this! Longenecker observes that "Agrippa's comment should not be taken to mean that a provincial governor could not free a prisoner after an appeal to Caesar. In this situation, however, Paul's status was not a question of law only but also of politics (cf. Acts 25:12+). Luke has picked up these words of Agrippa and uses them to conclude his accounts of Paul's defenses before Roman as well as Jewish judges. In fact, they conclude Luke's apologetic motif in Acts and vindicate both Paul and Christianity from any suspicion of sedition." (Expositor's Bible Commentary – Volume 9: John and Acts) NET Note - Ultimately Agrippa and Festus blamed what Paul himself had done in appealing to Caesar for his own continued custody. In terms of Luke’s narrative, this still appears unjust and a denial of responsibility. John