Acts 26

⁹ “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. ¹⁰ And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them.  

¹¹ And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.

Paul Tells of His Conversion

¹² “While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, ¹³ at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me.  

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.’ 

¹⁵ And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 

¹⁶ But rise up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; ¹⁷ rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

¹⁹ “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, practicing deeds appropriate to repentance.

EMPHASIS: Paul PASSIONATELY lived a life REBELLIOUS towards JESUS, persecuting Christians, BUT AFTER his conversion he lived a life PASSIONATELY COMMITTED to Jesus and the MISSION of the Gospel.

Message Title: OPENING EYES TO TURN FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT.

We should not forget here we come from.

Literary Context:

Acts 26

26 Now Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul, stretching out his hand, began to make his defence:

² “Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I regard myself blessed, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defence before you today; ³ especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

⁴ “So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; ⁵ since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. 

⁶ And now I am standing here being tried for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; ⁷ the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews.

⁸ Why is it considered unbelievable among all of you if God does raise the dead?

Acts 26

²¹ For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and were trying to put me to death. 

²² Therefore, having obtained help from God to this day, I stand here bearing witness both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; ²³ that the Christ was to suffer and that as first of the resurrection from the dead, He was going to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴ Now while Paul was saying this in his defence, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Great learning is driving you out of your mind.” ²⁵ But Paul *said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth. 

²⁶ For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner. 

²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know you believe.”

Cultural and Historical Context:

The Jews accused Paul of breaking their Laws and they have him arrested. Paul appeals to the Emperor of Rome since he is also a Roman citizen. Paul is extradited to Rome to stand before the emperor.

MEANING: Paul BELIEVED in the gospel message of the death and resurrection of Jesus AND being COMMITTED to that message came at great cost, that led to PERSECUTION, imprisonment and possibly even death, BECAUSE Paul as a man grounded in his convictions.

THE STORY OF PAUL:

He was a FAITHFUL Jew.

Well known as a FAITHFUL Jew – Pharisee.

Member of the Sanhedrin.

Could vote against those who were TRIED by the Sanhedrin – like Christians – Like Stephen ACTS 7.

Acts 7

⁵⁸ And when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Sanhedrin Membership REQUIRED – Married – Paul’s WIFE either DIED – or DESERTED Him.

Paul REMEMBERS how lost he was.

ZEALOUSLY PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

Did many things HOSTILE to the name of Jesus.

Locked up the SAINTS in prison – had some put to death.

Punished Christians in ALL the synagogues.

Tried to FORCE Christians to BLASPHEME.

Furiously ENRAGED by Christians – PURSUING them to Foreign Cities.

WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR PAUL?

AUTHOR’S MAIN POINT

Paul was PASSIONATELY in opposition against the gospel and all who believed in Jesus BUT after his conversion he PASSIONATELY preached that same gospel not MATTER the cost. 

1. PAUL’S EYES WERE FIRST BE TURNED FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT.

Encountering Christ – Reject OR Receive?

Acts 26

¹² “While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, ¹³ at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 

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.’ 

¹⁵ And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 

Paul was FIGHTING Christ.

Believers: 

• When people persecute Christians they often genuinely believe that what they are doing is right, but that is because they are blinded by their religion, or ideology or false belief system AND there is hope that they could be saved and have a change of heart, by the power of the gospel.

Paul’s EYES WERE TURNED FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT.

Colossians 1

¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. ¹³ Who rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Paul UNDERSTOOD…

2. PAUL’S MISSION WAS FOR OTHERS TO TURN FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT.

What ABOUT OTHERS?

Acts 26

¹⁶ But rise up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 

¹⁷ rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

Paul KNOWS FOR CERTAIN – Gospel TRANSFORMS US.

2 Corinthians 4

⁶ For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; ⁸ in every way afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 

The GOSPEL TRANSFORMS – NO MATTER the Circumstances.

Paul KNOWS and BELIEVES – He wants OTHERS to KNOW and BELIEVE. 

3. PAUL’S OBEDIENCE TO HIS HEAVENLY CALL IS HIS MINISTRY PHILOSOPHY.

CALLED to Make DISCIPLES – NOT CONVERTS.

Acts 26

¹⁹ “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, practicing deeds appropriate to repentance.

BELIEVERS…

Repentance – Faith – Conversion – Regeneration – Justification – Adoption – Sanctification – Prayer.

Gospel TRANSFORMS US.

Colossians 1

²¹ And although you were formerly alienated and enemies in mind and in evil deeds, ²² but now He reconciled you in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith firmly grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Ephesians 1

¹⁸ so that you—the eyes of your heart having been enlightened—will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe according to the working of the might of His strength, ²⁰ which He worked in Christ, by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 

Believers:

• The authority of Satan and the power of DARKNESS can only be defeated by the MESSAGE of the Gospel through the POWER of God by FAITH in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, and WE are called to be FAITHFUL servants of that ministry and mission.

Unbelievers:

• Satan has authority over you and DARKNESS has power over you and ONLY Jesus can deliver you WHEN you believe in the gospel message for the forgiveness of your sins AND for the inheritance of eternal salvation.

MY MAIN POINT

We are SAVED not by accident or by chance, BUT by God’s DIVINE GRACE and WE have a GREAT responsibility to SHARE that good news with OTHERS no matter what it may COST us.