Acts 26:23

Translations

Modern

…that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Traditional

That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

Literal

…that the Christ would suffer and, as first through resurrection from the dead, He is about to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Latin

…si passibilis Christus, si primus ex resurrectione mortuorum, lumen annuntiaturus est populo et gentibus.

Original

Greek

English

…that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Notes

Acts 26:22–23

Paul stressed that God protected him as he carried out his witness (compare 3:18; 10:43; Luke 24:25–27, 44–47). Paul urged his listeners to believe that Jesus is the Christ who fulfills Old Testament promises (see Luke 24:27, 44).

Acts 26:1–23

In his careful defense before King Agrippa, Paul argued that his message agreed fully with the Jewish faith. He began by respectfully recognizing Agrippa’s knowledge of Jewish matters (26:2–3). He then described his early life, his training in Judaism, and his membership in the Pharisees (a Jewish group known for strict obedience to the law; 26:4–5).

Paul explained that the charges against him were only because he believed that God had fulfilled the Jewish hope of the resurrection (God raising the dead to life; 26:6–8).

He then told how he had once strongly opposed Christians (26:9–11), but changed after seeing a vision from Jesus on the road to Damascus (26:12–18; see 9:1–18).

Paul said that his preaching simply obeyed this message from God (26:19–20). Although some Jews opposed him violently (26:21), God protected him. He continued to teach a message that his fellow Jews should have accepted (22–23). This defense shows an example for Christians who are put on trial for their faith (see 9:15; Luke 21:12–15).

Theme notes and profiles

Herod Agrippa II Paul (Saul) God’s Servant The Messiah The Resurrection of the Dead

Events

Paul goes before Agrippac. AD 56

Related verses

Isaiah 53:1–12
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
Luke 24:26
Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”
Colossians 1:18
And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
Revelation 1:5
…and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,
Hebrews 2:10
In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
Daniel 9:24–26
Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
Psalm 22:1–31
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?
Luke 2:32
…a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
1 Corinthians 15:20–23
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Zechariah 13:7
Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.
1 Corinthians 15:3
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

Parallels

Acts 9:1–19 Acts 22:1–21

People

Jesus: The Son of God and Savior of the world

Glossary

Apostle, Apostleship Book of the Acts of the Apostles Damascus Herod, Herodian Family Judaizers Paul the Apostle Procurator Titus Caesar

Topics

Converts: Sergius Paulus Court: Accused Spoke in his own Defense Defense of Paul Jesus, the Christ: Death of Jesus, the Christ: Design of his Death Jesus, the Christ: Mission of Jesus, the Christ: Other Scriptures Relating to his Messiahship Jesus, the Christ: Resurrection of Law: Prophecies In, of the Messiah Religious Zeal: Exemplified by Paul Testimony: Religious, Exemplified The Resurrection of Christ: Asserted and Preached by the Apostles The Resurrection of Christ: The First-Fruits of Our Resurrection

Acts 26:23

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