Acts 26:9-18
9 “So I thought to myself that I had to act in strong opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, after receiving authority from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being put to death.
11 And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was extremely enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.
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 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 dialect, ‘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 get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you as a servant and a witness not only to the things in which you have seen Me, 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 power 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’s Defense (3)
Significance of this defense
(1) This defense is the fifth and final one in the Acts of the Apostles. Let’s list the five defenses: (a) He spoke to the Jews at the temple (Acts 22:1-21). (b) He spoke to the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem (Acts 23:1-8). (c) He spoke to Governor Felix in Caesarea (Acts 24:10-21). (d) He spoke to Governor Festus in Caesarea (Acts 25:6-11). (e) He spoke to King Agrippa in Caesarea (Acts 26:1-32).
(2) This defense is the climax of all the defenses in the Acts of the Apostles. (a) It is Paul’s evangelistic message. (b) It expresses Paul’s theological convictions. (c) It is the longest defense in terms of content.
The central theme of this defense
The central theme is found in the words that the Lord Jesus spoke to Paul in Acts 26:17-18: “Rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 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 an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”
(1) The words that the Lord spoke to Paul resemble the Messianic prophecies (prophecies of the Messiah and his mission) found in the Old Testament (ref. Isaiah 35:5; 42:7; 42:16; 61:1). The ministry that Paul was called to carry out serves as a foreshadowing of what the Messiah Himself will ultimately accomplish on earth.
(2) Paul’s ministry (the transmission of the power of the Gospel) can be divided into four key purposes: (a) To open the eyes of those who are spiritually blind. (b) To set free those who are under the power of Satan. (c) To grant the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus. (d) To allow believers to share in the inheritance together with the saints. Romans 8:17 states: “And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
We who have believed in the Gospel have experienced all four of these elements. Let us a take a moment to reaffirm them: Our spiritual eyes have been opened, we have been set free from Satan’s power, our sins have been forgiven through faith, and we have become co-heirs with Christ. What an amazing grace! Let us share this Gospel with as many people as possible.
Today's prayer
Gracious Father God, the gospel is Your grace. Please help me and guide me so that I may share this gospel with as many people as possible. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.