Acts 26:17

17 And I will keep you safe from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you,

Acts 26:17 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 26:17

Delivering thee from the people
That is, the people of the Jews, as they are distinguished from the Gentiles; and so the Syriac version, and two of Beza's copies, and two of Stephens's, read; for the Lord knew, that as soon as ever Saul was converted and professed his name, and preached his Gospel, the people of the Jews would immediately become his implacable enemies, and seek to destroy him; wherefore he promises him before hand deliverance, and security from them:

and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee;
to both Jews and Gentiles; to the Jews first, and then to the Gentiles; which method the apostle observed, and which course he steered, until the Jews put away the Gospel from them; and then he turned to the Gentiles, to whom he chiefly preached, as their apostle, and was saved from many dangers among them, as is here promised.

Acts 26:17 In-Context

15 And I said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are attacking.

16 But get up on your feet: for I have come to you for this purpose, to make you a servant and a witness of the things in which you have seen me, and of those in which you will see me;

17 And I will keep you safe from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you,

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.

19 So, then, King Agrippa, I did not go against the vision from heaven;