Nowhere else is there such deliverance from the glare and cross-lights of earth as is afforded by a vision of the face of Jesus, brighter than the sun at noon. To everyone there comes the opportunity of catching a vision of that face, sometimes reflected in a human one, as Paul first saw it in the countenance of Stephen. It confronts us when we go on forbidden paths, and summons us to arise and follow the life which is life indeed.
Acts 26:16 : What we have seen is only a part of the great unveiling. He will show us other and greater things than these. Acts 26:17 : We shall be delivered, even as we are sent. The Master holds Himself responsible for our safety while we are engaged in His work. Acts 26:18 : We have here an anticipation of Colossians 1:19.
We must not disobey the heavenly visions that visit us. When Paul in his dream beheld the beckoning Macedonian, he made a straight course for Europe. Sometimes, in obeying, the first appearances are discouraging, as when the missionaries, on landing at Philippi, met only a few women beside the little river; but the final results will justify the first stepping-out of faith. [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 26
1Paul, in the presence of Agrippa, declares his life from his childhood; 12and how miraculously he was converted, and called to his apostleship 24Festus charges him with being insane, whereunto he answers modestly 28Agrippa is almost persuaded to be a Christian 31The whole company pronounces him innocent
Greek Commentary for Acts 26:12
Whereupon [εν οις] “In which things” (affairs of persecution), “on which errand.” Cf. Acts 24:18. Paul made them leave Palestine (Acts 11:19) and followed them beyond it (Acts 9:2). [source]
With the authority and commission [μετ εχουσιας και επιτροπης] Not merely “authority” (εχουσια exousia), but express appointment (επιτροπη epitropē old word, but here only in N.T., derived from επιτροπος epitropos steward, and that from επιτρεπω epitrepō to turn over to, to commit). [source]
Whereupon [ἐν οἶς] See on Acts 24:18. Better, on which errand; in which affairs of persecution. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 26:12
Acts 9:3Drew nigh [εγγιζειν] Present active infinitive, was drawing nigh. Shone round about him (αυτον περιηστραπσεν auton periēstrapsen). First aorist (ingressive) active indicative of περιαστραπτω periastraptō late compound verb common in lxx and Byzantine writers, here and Acts 22:6 alone in the N.T. “A light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.” It was like a flash of lightning. Paul uses the same verb in Acts 22:5, but in Acts 26:13 he employs περιλαμπσαν perilampsan (shining around). There are numerous variations in the historical narrative of Saul‘s conversion in 9:3-18 and Luke‘s report of Paul‘s two addresses, one on the steps of the Tower of Antonia facing the murderous mob (Acts 22:6-16), the other before Festus and Agrippa (Acts 26:12-20). A great deal of capital has been made of these variations to the discredit of Luke as a writer as if he should have made Paul‘s two speeches conform at every point with his own narrative. This objection has no weight except for those who hold that Luke composed Paul‘s speeches freely as some Greek writers used to do. But, if Luke had notes of Paul‘s speeches or help from Paul himself, he naturally preserved the form of the two addresses without trying to make them agree with each other in all details or with his own narrative in chapter 9. Luke evidently attached great importance to the story of Saul‘s conversion as the turning point not simply in the career of the man, but an epoch in the history of apostolic Christianity. In broad outline and in all essentials the three accounts agree and testify to the truthfulness of the account of the conversion of Saul. It is impossible to overestimate the worth to the student of Christianity of this event from every angle because we have in Paul‘s Epistles his own emphasis on the actual appearance of Jesus to him as the fact that changed his whole life (1 Corinthians 15:8; Galatians 1:16.). The variations that appear in the three accounts do not mar the story, when rightly understood, as we shall see. Here, for instance, Luke simply mentions “a light from heaven,” while in Acts 22:6 Paul calls it “a great (ικανον hikanon) light” “about noon” and in Acts 26:13 “above the brightness of the sun,” as it would have to be “at midday” with the sun shining. [source]
Acts 9:3Shone round about him [αυτον περιηστραπσεν] First aorist (ingressive) active indicative of περιαστραπτω periastraptō late compound verb common in lxx and Byzantine writers, here and Acts 22:6 alone in the N.T. “A light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.” It was like a flash of lightning. Paul uses the same verb in Acts 22:5, but in Acts 26:13 he employs περιλαμπσαν perilampsan (shining around). There are numerous variations in the historical narrative of Saul‘s conversion in 9:3-18 and Luke‘s report of Paul‘s two addresses, one on the steps of the Tower of Antonia facing the murderous mob (Acts 22:6-16), the other before Festus and Agrippa (Acts 26:12-20). A great deal of capital has been made of these variations to the discredit of Luke as a writer as if he should have made Paul‘s two speeches conform at every point with his own narrative. This objection has no weight except for those who hold that Luke composed Paul‘s speeches freely as some Greek writers used to do. But, if Luke had notes of Paul‘s speeches or help from Paul himself, he naturally preserved the form of the two addresses without trying to make them agree with each other in all details or with his own narrative in chapter 9. Luke evidently attached great importance to the story of Saul‘s conversion as the turning point not simply in the career of the man, but an epoch in the history of apostolic Christianity. In broad outline and in all essentials the three accounts agree and testify to the truthfulness of the account of the conversion of Saul. It is impossible to overestimate the worth to the student of Christianity of this event from every angle because we have in Paul‘s Epistles his own emphasis on the actual appearance of Jesus to him as the fact that changed his whole life (1 Corinthians 15:8; Galatians 1:16.). The variations that appear in the three accounts do not mar the story, when rightly understood, as we shall see. Here, for instance, Luke simply mentions “a light from heaven,” while in Acts 22:6 Paul calls it “a great (ικανον hikanon) light” “about noon” and in Acts 26:13 “above the brightness of the sun,” as it would have to be “at midday” with the sun shining. [source]
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Δαμασκός
Sense: one of the most ancient and most important cities of Syria lying in almost lovely and fertile plain at the eastern base of the Antilibanus.
Greek Commentary for Acts 26:12
“In which things” (affairs of persecution), “on which errand.” Cf. Acts 24:18. Paul made them leave Palestine (Acts 11:19) and followed them beyond it (Acts 9:2). [source]
Not merely “authority” (εχουσια exousia), but express appointment (επιτροπη epitropē old word, but here only in N.T., derived from επιτροπος epitropos steward, and that from επιτρεπω epitrepō to turn over to, to commit). [source]
See on Acts 24:18. Better, on which errand; in which affairs of persecution. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 26:12
Present active infinitive, was drawing nigh. Shone round about him (αυτον περιηστραπσεν auton periēstrapsen). First aorist (ingressive) active indicative of περιαστραπτω periastraptō late compound verb common in lxx and Byzantine writers, here and Acts 22:6 alone in the N.T. “A light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.” It was like a flash of lightning. Paul uses the same verb in Acts 22:5, but in Acts 26:13 he employs περιλαμπσαν perilampsan (shining around). There are numerous variations in the historical narrative of Saul‘s conversion in 9:3-18 and Luke‘s report of Paul‘s two addresses, one on the steps of the Tower of Antonia facing the murderous mob (Acts 22:6-16), the other before Festus and Agrippa (Acts 26:12-20). A great deal of capital has been made of these variations to the discredit of Luke as a writer as if he should have made Paul‘s two speeches conform at every point with his own narrative. This objection has no weight except for those who hold that Luke composed Paul‘s speeches freely as some Greek writers used to do. But, if Luke had notes of Paul‘s speeches or help from Paul himself, he naturally preserved the form of the two addresses without trying to make them agree with each other in all details or with his own narrative in chapter 9. Luke evidently attached great importance to the story of Saul‘s conversion as the turning point not simply in the career of the man, but an epoch in the history of apostolic Christianity. In broad outline and in all essentials the three accounts agree and testify to the truthfulness of the account of the conversion of Saul. It is impossible to overestimate the worth to the student of Christianity of this event from every angle because we have in Paul‘s Epistles his own emphasis on the actual appearance of Jesus to him as the fact that changed his whole life (1 Corinthians 15:8; Galatians 1:16.). The variations that appear in the three accounts do not mar the story, when rightly understood, as we shall see. Here, for instance, Luke simply mentions “a light from heaven,” while in Acts 22:6 Paul calls it “a great (ικανον hikanon) light” “about noon” and in Acts 26:13 “above the brightness of the sun,” as it would have to be “at midday” with the sun shining. [source]
First aorist (ingressive) active indicative of περιαστραπτω periastraptō late compound verb common in lxx and Byzantine writers, here and Acts 22:6 alone in the N.T. “A light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.” It was like a flash of lightning. Paul uses the same verb in Acts 22:5, but in Acts 26:13 he employs περιλαμπσαν perilampsan (shining around). There are numerous variations in the historical narrative of Saul‘s conversion in 9:3-18 and Luke‘s report of Paul‘s two addresses, one on the steps of the Tower of Antonia facing the murderous mob (Acts 22:6-16), the other before Festus and Agrippa (Acts 26:12-20). A great deal of capital has been made of these variations to the discredit of Luke as a writer as if he should have made Paul‘s two speeches conform at every point with his own narrative. This objection has no weight except for those who hold that Luke composed Paul‘s speeches freely as some Greek writers used to do. But, if Luke had notes of Paul‘s speeches or help from Paul himself, he naturally preserved the form of the two addresses without trying to make them agree with each other in all details or with his own narrative in chapter 9. Luke evidently attached great importance to the story of Saul‘s conversion as the turning point not simply in the career of the man, but an epoch in the history of apostolic Christianity. In broad outline and in all essentials the three accounts agree and testify to the truthfulness of the account of the conversion of Saul. It is impossible to overestimate the worth to the student of Christianity of this event from every angle because we have in Paul‘s Epistles his own emphasis on the actual appearance of Jesus to him as the fact that changed his whole life (1 Corinthians 15:8; Galatians 1:16.). The variations that appear in the three accounts do not mar the story, when rightly understood, as we shall see. Here, for instance, Luke simply mentions “a light from heaven,” while in Acts 22:6 Paul calls it “a great (ικανον hikanon) light” “about noon” and in Acts 26:13 “above the brightness of the sun,” as it would have to be “at midday” with the sun shining. [source]