Acts 26:16
But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you.
But get up and stand on your feet
This phrase marks a pivotal moment of divine intervention and commissioning. The Greek word for "get up" is "anastēthi," which implies a resurrection or rising to a new life. This is not merely a physical act but a spiritual awakening. The command to "stand on your feet" signifies readiness and preparation for a mission. In biblical times, standing was a posture of readiness and respect, often associated with receiving a commission or a message from God. This directive is reminiscent of God's call to prophets like Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:1), emphasizing the continuity of God's work through His chosen messengers.

For I have appeared to you
The Greek word "ōphthēn" is used here, meaning "to appear" or "to be seen." This is a divine revelation, a theophany, where God makes Himself known to an individual. In the context of Acts, this appearance is the risen Christ manifesting Himself to Saul (Paul), marking a transformative encounter. This appearance is not just a vision but a personal and direct revelation, underscoring the authenticity and authority of Paul's apostolic mission. Historically, such divine appearances were rare and significant, often marking a turning point in the biblical narrative.

to appoint you as a servant
The term "appoint" comes from the Greek "procheirizomai," meaning to designate or choose for a specific purpose. This is a divine selection, indicating that Paul's role is not self-assumed but divinely ordained. The word "servant" is translated from "hypēretēs," which refers to an attendant or minister. This highlights the humility and dedication required in Paul's mission. In the early church, being a servant was a position of honor, reflecting Christ's own example of servanthood (Mark 10:45).

and as a witness
The Greek word "martys" is used here, which is the root for the English word "martyr." It signifies one who testifies to the truth, often at great personal cost. Paul's role as a witness involves both verbal testimony and the demonstration of his faith through his life and sufferings. In the historical context of the early church, witnesses were crucial for the spread of the Gospel, as they provided firsthand accounts of Christ's life, death, and resurrection.

of what you have seen and will see of Me
This phrase encompasses both past experiences and future revelations. The Greek word "horaō" for "seen" implies not just physical sight but spiritual insight and understanding. Paul is called to testify about his past encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus and the ongoing revelations he will receive. This dual aspect of witnessing underscores the dynamic and continuous nature of divine revelation. It also highlights the unfolding of God's plan through Paul's ministry, as he would later receive further visions and insights that would shape the early church and its theology.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus)
A Pharisee and persecutor of Christians who encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and became a pivotal apostle to the Gentiles.

2. Jesus Christ
The risen Lord who appeared to Paul, commissioning him for a specific mission to spread the Gospel.

3. Road to Damascus
The location where Paul experienced his transformative encounter with Jesus, leading to his conversion and calling.

4. King Agrippa
The ruler before whom Paul is making his defense, recounting his conversion and mission.

5. Witness and Servant
The roles Jesus assigns to Paul, emphasizing his duty to testify about Jesus and serve His purposes.
Teaching Points
Divine Appointment
God has specific purposes for each believer, just as He appointed Paul. We should seek to understand and fulfill our unique callings.

Stand Firm in Faith
Like Paul, we are called to "stand on our feet" and be active participants in God's mission, despite challenges or past failures.

Witnessing to Others
Our personal experiences with Christ are powerful testimonies. We should be ready to share what we have seen and know of Him.

Transformation and Grace
Paul's transformation from persecutor to apostle highlights the transformative power of God's grace, reminding us that no one is beyond redemption.

Obedience to God's Call
Paul's immediate response to Jesus' command serves as a model for our own obedience to God's directives in our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Paul's encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus illustrate the concept of divine intervention in our lives?

2. In what ways can we "stand on our feet" and actively participate in God's mission today?

3. Reflect on a personal experience where you felt called to be a witness for Christ. How did you respond, and what was the outcome?

4. How can Paul's transformation from a persecutor to an apostle encourage us in our own spiritual journeys and struggles?

5. What steps can we take to ensure we are obedient to God's calling, even when it requires significant change or sacrifice?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Acts 9:3-6
This passage describes the initial encounter between Paul and Jesus on the road to Damascus, providing context for Acts 26:16.

Galatians 1:15-16
Paul speaks of his calling and revelation of Jesus Christ, aligning with his commission as a witness.

2 Corinthians 5:20
Paul describes believers as ambassadors for Christ, which parallels his role as a servant and witness.

1 Timothy 1:12-16
Paul reflects on his past and the grace of God in appointing him to ministry, echoing the themes of calling and transformation.
Patti's Defence Before AgrippaD. C. Hughes.Acts 26:1-32
Paul Before AgrippaJ. Parker, D. D.Acts 26:1-32
Paul Before AgrippaD. Katterns.Acts 26:1-32
Paul Before AgrippaJ. Parker, D. D.Acts 26:1-32
Paul Before Festus and AgrippaE. Johnson Acts 26:1-32
Paul's Defence Before AgrippaD. Thomas, D. D.Acts 26:1-32
Paul's Defence Before AgrippaJ. W. Burn.Acts 26:1-32
Paul's Sermon Before AgrippaT. D. Witherspoon, D. D.Acts 26:1-32
Paul's Stretched-Out ArmK. Gerok.Acts 26:1-32
That Many Rest Upon a Strict Way of ReligionA. Burgess.Acts 26:1-32
The Apostolic Defense in the Presence of Festus and AgrippaR.A. Redford Acts 26:1-32
Christ and PaulC. H. Spurgeon.Acts 26:12-18
Christ's RemonstrancesA. Maclaren, D. D.Acts 26:12-18
Kicking Against the PricksC. F. Childe, M. A.Acts 26:12-18
Opposition to the Truth FatalActs 26:12-18
Opposition to the Truth, Self-DestructiveActs 26:12-18
Striving Against ConvictionU. R. Thomas.Acts 26:12-18
The Conversion of Saul of TarsusEssex Congregational RemembrancerActs 26:12-18
The Conversion of Saul: its GenuinenessCanon Liddon.Acts 26:12-18
The Ox and the GoadC. H. Spurgeon.Acts 26:12-18
The Sinner His Own EnemyDean Vaughan.Acts 26:12-18
Apostolic MinistryD. Thomas, D. D.Acts 26:16-18
Christian Ministry DefinedJ. Parker, D. D.Acts 26:16-18
Christianity Self-AttestedJ. Parker, D. D.Acts 26:16-18
God's Work Upon Minister and ConvertC. H. Spurgeon.Acts 26:16-18
Minister and MessengerW. Clarkson Acts 26:16-18
The Objects of the Christian MinistryO. A. Jeary.Acts 26:16-18
Why am I SavedG. E. Reed.Acts 26:16-18
People
Agrippa, Bernice, Festus, Paul, Saul
Places
Caesarea, Damascus, Jerusalem, Judea
Topics
Already, Appear, Appeared, Appoint, Appointing, Arise, Bear, Hast, Minister, Officer, Purpose, Reveal, Rise, Servant, Serve, Stand, Wherein, Witness
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 26:16

     5624   witnesses, to Christ

Acts 26:9-18

     5108   Paul, life of
     8427   evangelism, kinds of

Acts 26:12-18

     5109   Paul, apostle
     6629   conversion, examples
     7707   apostles, designation

Acts 26:12-19

     1469   visions

Acts 26:14-16

     5196   voice

Acts 26:15-18

     6654   forgiveness, Christ's ministry
     7740   missionaries, call

Acts 26:15-23

     7512   Gentiles, in NT

Acts 26:16-18

     6628   conversion, God's demand
     7026   church, leadership

Library
April 20 Evening
Who art thou Lord? I am Jesus.--ACTS 26:15. It is I; be not afraid.--When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee: and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, . . . thy Saviour. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.--Emmanuel, God with us. Thou shalt
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

May 26 Evening
The city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.--REV. 21:23. I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.--Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

Christ's Remonstrances
'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 perseoutest thou Me! it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.'--ACTS xxvi. 14. 'Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?' No. But God can change the skin, because He can change the nature. In this story of the conversion of the Apostle Paul--the most important thing that happened that day--we have an instance how brambles may become vines; tares
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Faith in Christ
'...Faith that is in Me.'--ACTS xxvi. 18. It is commonly said, and so far as the fact is concerned, said truly, that what are called the distinguishing doctrines of Christianity are rather found in the Epistles than in the Gospels. If we wish the clearest statements of the nature and person of Christ, we turn to Paul's Epistle to the Colossians. If we wish the fullest dissertation upon Christ's work as a sacrifice, we go to the Epistle to the Hebrews. If we seek to prove that men are justified by
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

'The Heavenly vision'
'Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.' Acts xxvi. 19. This is Paul's account of the decisive moment in his life on which all his own future, and a great deal of the future of Christianity and of the world, hung. The gracious voice had spoken from heaven, and now everything depended on the answer made in the heart of the man lying there blind and amazed. Will he rise melted by love, and softened into submission, or hardened by resistance to the call of the exalted
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

'Me a Christian!'
'Then Agrlppa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.'--ACTS xxvi 28. This Agrippa was son of the other Herod of whom we hear in the Acts as a persecutor. This one appears from other sources, to have had the vices but not the force of character of his bad race. He was weak and indolent, a mere hanger-on of Rome, to which he owed his kingdom, and to which he stoutly stuck during all the tragedy of the fall of Jerusalem. In position and in character (largely resulting from the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

'Before Governors and Kings'
'Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20. But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judsea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. 21. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. 22. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Eighteenth Day. Holiness and Faith.
That they may receive remission of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.'--Acts xxvi. 18. The more we study Scripture in the light of the Holy Spirit, or practise the Christian life in His power, the deeper becomes our conviction of the unique and central place faith has in God's plan of salvation. And we learn, too, to see that it is meet and right that it should be so: the very nature of things demands it. Because God is a Spiritual and Invisible Being, every
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

The Nature of Enthusiasm
"And Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself." Acts 26:24. 1. And so say all the world, the men who know not God, of all that are of Paul's religion: of every one who is so a follower of him as he was of Christ. It is true, there is a sort of religion, nay, and it is called Christianity too, which may be practised without any such Imputation, which is generally allowed to be consistent with common sense, --that is, a religion of form, a round of outward duties, performed in a
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Almost Christian
"Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Acts 26:28. AND many there are who go thus far: ever since the Christian religion was in the world, there have been many in every age and nation who were almost persuaded to be Christians. But seeing it avails nothing before God to go only thus far, it highly imports us to consider, First. What is implied in being almost, Secondly. What in being altogether, a Christian. I. (I.) 1. Now, in the being almost a Christian is implied, First, heathen honesty.
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus
I intend, this morning, to address myself more particularly to those who fear not the Lord Jesus Christ, but on the contrary, oppose him. I think I may be quite certain that I have none here who go the length of desiring to see the old persecution of the church revived. I do not think there is an Englishman, however much he may hate religion, who would wish to see the stake again in Smithfield, and the burning pile consuming the saints. There may be some who hate them as much, but still not in that
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

Acts 26:24-29. Portraits.
[10] "And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. "But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. "For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. "King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. "Then Agrippa said
John Charles Ryle—The Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times

The Publisher to the Reader.
There are no sermons I know of any divine or pastor in this kingdom, that have been more frequently printed, or more universally read and esteemed, than the elegant and judicious discourses of Mr. Binning, which were published after his death, at different times, in four small volumes. As there was a great demand for these valuable writings, about twenty six years ago; so these printed copies of them were compared with his own manuscript copy now in my hand, carefully revised, and then printed, in
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Tillotson -- the Reasonableness of a Resurrection
John Tillotson, archbishop of Canterbury, renowned as a preacher, was born at Sowerby, in Yorkshire, in 1630, the son of an ardent Independent. After graduating from Clare College, Cambridge, he began to preach in 1661, in connection with the Presbyterian wing of the Church of England. He, however, submitted to the Act of Uniformity the following year, and in 1663 was inducted into the rectory of Veddington, Suffolk. He was also appointed preacher to Lincoln's Inn, was made prebendary of Canterbury
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Vol. 2

Sanctified by Faith
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."--Heb. 11:6. "That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."--Acts 26:18. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand."--Rom. 5:1, 2. Faith in the blood
J. W. Byers—Sanctification

The Advanced Christian Reminded of the Mercies of God, and Exhorted to the Exercise of Habitual Love to Him, and Joy in Him.
1. A holy joy in God, our privilege as well as our duty.--2. The Christian invited to the exercise of it.--3. By the consideration of temporal mercies.--4. And of spiritual favors.--5. By the views of eternal happiness.--6. And of the mercies of God to others, the living and the dead.--7. The chapter closes with an exhortation to this heavenly exercise. And with an example of the genuine workings of this grateful joy in God. 1. I WOULD now suppose my reader to find, on an examination of his spiritual
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

Transformed
C. P. C. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 "I send thee 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."--Acts xxvi. 18. Dark lay the plain, a tangled wilderness, And dark the mountains in the mists afar-- A land of darkness where no order is, Nor moon, nor star-- There was the line of drear confusion drawn, The stones of emptiness lay
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series)

The Gospel According to Paul
C. P. C. Acts xxvi. 16 From the glory and the gladness, From His secret place; From the rapture of His Presence From the radiance of His Face-- Christ, the Son of God, hath sent me Through the midnight lands; Mine the mighty ordination Of the pierced Hands. Mine the message grand and glorious Strange unsealed surprise-- That the goal is God's Beloved, Christ in Paradise. Hear me, weary men and women, Sinners dead in sin; I am come from heaven to tell you Of the love within; Not alone of God's
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Defending Field Preaching
Between four and five we set out from Roughlee. But observing several parties of men upon the hills and suspecting their design, we put on and passed the lane they were making for before they came. One of our brothers, not riding so fast, was intercepted by them. They immediately knocked him down, and how it was that he got from among them he knew not. Before seven we reached Widdop. The news of what had passed at Barrowford made us all friends. The person in whose house Mr. B. preached, sent and
John Wesley—The Journal of John Wesley

The Word
The third way to escape the wrath and curse of God, and obtain the benefit of redemption by Christ, is the diligent use of ordinances, in particular, the word, sacraments, and prayer.' I begin with the best of these ordinances. The word . . . which effectually worketh in you that believe.' 1 Thess 2:13. What is meant by the word's working effectually? The word of God is said to work effectually when it has the good effect upon us for which it was appointed by God; when it works powerful illumination
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Paul on his Own Conversion
'And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. 7. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why perseoutest thou Me? 8. And I answered, Who art Thou, Lord? And He said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of Him that spake to me. 10. And I said,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Saving Faith.
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.--ACTS xvi. 30,31. This is one of the most abused texts in the Bible, and one which, perhaps, has been made to do quite as much work for the devil as for God. Let every saint present, ask in faith for the light of the Holy Ghost, while we try rightly to apply it. Let us enquire:-- 1. Who are to believe? 2. When are they to believe? 3. How are
Catherine Booth—Godliness

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