Acts 26

CHAPTER 26

Paul Before Agrippa (26:1-8)

1-3 Here in Chapter 26, Paul speaks in his defense before Agrippa in much the same way he spoke before the Jewish crowd in Acts 22:1-21.

In this chapter, Luke for the third time describes Paul’s religious conversion. The reason Luke tells us the story three times is not hard to guess: of all the events in the history of Christianity following Christ’s death and resurrection, there is no event more important than the conversion of the Apostle Paul (see Acts 9:1-19 and comment).

4-5 Everyone knew that, before his conversion, Paul had lived as a strict Pharisee (see Acts 22:3; Galatians 1:13-14). In regard to the Jewish law, Paul had lived faultlessly (see Philippians 3:4-6).

6 Here Paul again says that it is because of his hope in what God has promised—that is, the resurrection of the dead—that he is on trial (see Acts 23:6). God promised Abraham, the father of the Jews, that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2-3). That promise was fulfilled by Christ, and especially by His resurrection. God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son (1 John 5:11).

7-8 Paul says that the resurrection of the dead, together with eternal life, is the main hope of the Jewish nation. From the beginning, the twelve tribes¹¹⁰ of Israel had been looking forward to the fulfillment of this promise—the promise of a bodily resurrection and eternal life. Why is it so hard to believe that God raises the dead? Paul asks (verse 8). Only a few years earlier, God had raised Jesus from the dead. It is that same Jesus who is the fulfillment of the Jews’ hope. Why should the Jews accuse Paul of having the same hope that they themselves have? He believed in the same promise they did (Acts 24:15). There was only one difference between Paul and these Jews: Paul knew that the promise had been fulfilled; the Jews didn’t.

Paul’s Conversion (26:9-23)

9-11 Before his conversion, Paul himself didn’t believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. He considered the followers of Jesus to be enemies of the Jewish religion. In verse 10, Paul says: “I put many of the SAINTS in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them” (see Acts 7:60; 8:3; 9:1; 22:4 and comments).

12-15 What is written in these verses has previously been mentioned in Acts Chapters 9 and 22 (see Acts 9:2-5; 22:5-8 and comments).

According to verse 14, Jesus said to Paul, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” The kind of goad or stick referred to here was used to prick or beat animals. Here Jesus is speaking in a parable, according to which the goad is Paul’s conscience. In his conscience Paul sensed that Christ’s way was right, but he continued to oppose Him anyway. Paul was like an ox pulling a plow, who kicks its feet when the farmer hits it with the goad. Just as the ox kicks its feet in vain, so Paul had been “kicking his feet” against Christ in vain. It was time to stop opposing Christ and start following Him.

Paul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” (verse 15). Paul had assumed that Jesus had died and been buried. Now he hears Him speaking from heaven!

16-18 Then Jesus appointed Paul to be an apostle to the Gentiles (see Acts 9:15; 22:14-15 and comments).

Jesus first appointed Paul to be a servant (verse 16). Paul of ten called himself a servant of Christ (see Romans 1:1 and comment). After that, Jesus appointed Paul to be a witness (see Acts 1:8). From that time on, Paul was to devote his life to preaching the Gospel of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 9:16; Galatians 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:7-8).

According to Acts 9:16, Jesus said to Ananias, “I will show [Paul] how much he must suffer for my name.” But here, in verse 17, Jesus also gives Paul a promise: “I will rescue you from your own people (the Jews) and from the Gentiles.” And we know from reading the book of Acts how many times Jesus kept that promise to deliver Paul from his enemies! of ten God allows trouble and persecution to come upon His servants, and then He reveals His power and glory by delivering them. Such was Paul’s experience many times.

Jesus sent Paul especially to the Gentiles. Why? In order to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God (verse 18). Paul said to the Jews of Pisidian Antioch: “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth’” (Acts 13:47).

This appointment that Paul received from Jesus is the very same appointment that Jesus Himself received from God (see Isaiah 42:1,6-7; Acts 26:23). This was the chief work of all the apostles—to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. But this work is not just for a few special apostles; it is for every follower of Christ. Everyone who believes in Jesus is appointed to be a light for the Gentiles. Everyone who believes in Jesus is a witness for Him. Our work, in one way, is the same as His work—namely, to reconcile men with God (2 Corinthians 5:20), and bring them out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. And when men through faith in Christ turn from the power of Satan to God, they will receive forgiveness of sins (verse 18). In addition, they will receive a place among those who are sanctified; that is, they will become sanctified citizens of the kingdom of heaven.

Paul was appointed to be an apostle primarily to Gentiles (Galatians 2:7-8). Through Paul’s work, Christianity changed from a tiny Jewish sect into a religion reaching out to all people all over the world. Now not only Jews but Gentiles from every nation on earth have the chance to become citizens of the kingdom of God (see Ephesians 2:11-13,19; 3:6).

19 “I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.” Every believer in Christ has been given a vision from heaven. Like Paul, let each of us remain obedient to that vision.

20 As soon as Paul received his vision from heaven he began to preach, first in Damascus (Acts 9:19-20), and later in Jerusalem (Acts 9:28). His message was simple and clear: “… repent and turn to God.” Here we see the two parts of repentance: first, hating our sin; and second, turning from our sin. But that is not all; Paul told men to prove their repentance by their deeds. That is, men must show that their repentance is real by demonstrating a changed life (see Matthew 3:8). True repentance is not words but deeds. This applies to our faith also. We are saved through faith, but true faith is always manifested by good works (see Ephesians 2:9-10; James 2:14-17 and comments). True repentance and faith will always lead to a change in our speech, our behavior, even our thoughts.

21 The Jews opposed Paul because he preached among the Gentiles, whom the Jews despised. Because Paul had shown the way of salvation to the Gentiles, the Jews were jealous and wanted to kill him. The Jews didn’t want to share the blessing of God with anyone else; as a result, they lost the blessing. Let us, as Christians, not make the same mistake!

22-23 Paul was not opposed to the Jews, nor to their Scriptures, the Old Testament (Acts 24:14). Paul taught nothing beyond what had already been written by the Old Testament prophets (Acts 3:18-21) and Moses¹¹¹ (Acts 3:22). Moses and the prophets themselves had prophesied that Christ must suffer and rise from the dead (see Luke 24:44-46; Acts 17:3). And it was also written in the Old Testament that Christ would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6). Jesus Himself said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Paul’s Discussion with Festus and Agrippa (26:24-32)

24 Festus couldn’t understand why an educated man like Paul would give up his freedom and even his life for the sake of a dead man called Jesus. Paul surely must be insane, Festus thought.

25-27 But Paul was not insane. All these things concerning Jesus had been clearly foretold in the Old Testament. What had happened to Jesus during His lifetime was known by thousands of people. It was clear that this Jesus was the Savior described by the Old Testament prophets. King Agrippa believed the prophets; he would know that Paul was not insane. Let Festus ask him.

“King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do,” said Paul (verse 27).

28 Agrippa was in a dilemma as to how to answer. He didn’t want to appear to take Paul’s side, lest Festus think he was insane too. However, because he himself was a Jew, he couldn’t deny what had been written by the prophets. Therefore, he didn’t answer Paul’s question about whether he believed the prophets. Instead, he jokingly said to Paul, “Are you trying to make me a Christian?”

29 Without joking, Paul said, in effect: “Yes.” Paul’s prayer was that not only Agrippa but everyone in that room might become a Christian just like himself—but without the chains. At that time, Paul’s hands were bound with chains.

30-32 Everyone could see that Paul had committed no crime. He could have been set free. But because he had appealed to Caesar, Paul’s case was no longer in Festus’ hands. Having appealed to Caesar, now to Caesar he must go. Jesus had told Paul that he must testify about Him in Rome (Acts 23:11). Now Jesus’ desire was about to be fulfilled.