Acts 26:19-23

God wants us either hot or cold…not complacent!

It took a miracle to open Saul’s eyes to the truth of the Messiah, Jesus the Christ. God used Paul’s passion as a tool for the spreading of the Scriptures to the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

After all, our salvation rests on Christ's death for our sins and on His resurrection for our victory (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Anyone who believes in Christ for His salvation is part of the Church, His bride. As we stay true to Him, we discover Jesus is always our only reason to boast. Like Paul, when we talk about ourselves and our experiences, we can be less concerned with how others see us because our priority is to help them to see more of Christ. 

Declare the truth about God's goodness, wisdom and power over your situation: "Then Job answered the LORD and said: 'I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted'" (Job 42:1-2). First5 

Acts 26:19-23

19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. 21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” The New King James Version

Repentance indicates a complete change in thinking. In Romans 12:2, Paul speaks of the “renewing of your mind.” We do what we think is best, what makes sense to us. Paul was killing Christians because he thought it was the correct course of action. Christ’s revelation changed his thoughts, but his preaching of the Good News was visible proof that he had repented of his former ways. Genuine repentance is evidenced by changed behavior. The NKJV Study Bible 

Paul is being persecuted for following Jesus’ command to spread the gospel. This ministry, particularly to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people), has caused many of his fellow Jews to oppose him. Paul proclaims that both Gentiles and Jews receive forgiveness of sins and can be part of the people of God. Throughout Acts, the good news about Jesus is presented as the fulfillment of promises made by God in the old testament Scriptures. 

Paul could be referencing a variety of old testament passages. Paul has explained this message in his earlier speeches in Acts and used a variety of passages to do so. Jesus was not raised from the dead temporarily, as other people were. He was the first who absolutely conquered death and was the guarantee that others would as well. Faithlife Study Bible

Paul was made a Christian by Divine power; by a revelation of Christ both to him and in him; when in the full career of his sin. He was made a minister by Divine authority: the same Jesus who appeared to him in that glorious light, ordered him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. 

We are made holy, and saved by faith in Christ; by which we rely upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness, and give up ourselves to him as the Lord our Ruler; by this we receive the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and eternal life. 

The cross of Christ was a stumbling-block to the Jews, and they were in a rage at Paul’s preaching the fulfilling of the Old Testament predictions. Christ should be the first that should rise from the dead; the Head or principal One. Also, it was foretold by the prophets, that the Gentiles should be brought to the knowledge of God by the Messiah; and what in this could the Jews justly be displeased at? Thus the true convert can give a reason of his hope, and a good account of the change manifest in him. Yet for going about and calling on men thus to repent and to be converted, vast numbers have been blamed and persecuted. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Acts 9:20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Acts 9:28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.

Acts 9:29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him.

Acts 24:14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.