TO OPEN THEIR EYES

Acts 26:1-32

Key Verses 26:17-18

“17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

The title of today’s message is “To Open Their Eyes.” The holiday season is a good time for us to open our eyes. As we have just finished thanksgiving, we could review what God has done among us this year and what he is doing and give thanks to him. But if our eyes remained closed to all the good things God has done and is doing, we would miss out on all of the blessings and not give thanks to him, and end up going the wrong way. Put another way, it is like saying that you can get home safely although your eyes are closed. 

In the key verses for today, we find that the eyes of all people in this world are closed to what is most, Important, that is, the Lord Jesus, and so go the wrong way. But thankfully, the Lord Jesus sends his servants, like the Apostle Paul, to open their eyes. Even as Paul stood on trial for his life, he used it as an opportunity to open the eyes of those in attendance, especially the king Agrippa. When our eyes are opened to the knowledge of Jesus, it is the beginning of the power of God to work in our lives to give us hope and eternal life.

As we look at this passage closely, I pray that God may reveal Jesus to us who is the lord and set us on the right path.

Look at verses 1-3. This passage continues Paul’s trials before the Roman rulers Here he stood before King Agrippa. But to Paul, Agrippa was standing before him. Agrippa did not know Jesus. He did know  a lot about the Jewish customs and controversies. And so Paul was glad to speak to him. He saw Agrippa’s background as a good basis to witness of Jesus and open his eyes. He saw this time as an opportunity not to save himself, but to open Agrippa’s eyes.

Look at verses 4-5. "The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. [5] They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee.

Paul was a well known Jew. He knew that any of those Jews could testify to how Jewish Paul was.

Look again at the expressions he uses.

"ever since I was a child"

"from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem"

"they have known me for a long time"

"according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee"

In fact, Paul had a reputation for being the most Jewish man. From the beginning of his life he grew up under the strictest sect of their religion as a Pharisee. He became a pharisee of pharisees, the son of a Pharisee. It means he was so well trained and disciplined and knowledgeable of the Bible and all the Jewish ways. Especially, he learned from the Scripture about the hope God had promised to his people. It became his hope as well.

Look at verses 6-8. "And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. [7] This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me. [8] Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?"

To Paul, it was because of this hope that God had promised that he was trial on that day. Yet here there seems to be a contradiction. How can the Jewish people--the twelve tribes--be earnestly serving god day and night to see this hope and yet persecute Paul who had the same hope? What made the difference between the two?

Look again at verse 8. "Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?" he is referring he to Jesus. The defining point was how they knew Jesus. Although Paul was referring specifically to Jesus, his question strikes the heart deeply. It shows how dark their hearts had become that they could not even see the power of God to raise the dead. When it came down to it, their belief in God was only theoretical. Although many of them were also Pharisees who claimed to believe in the resurrection, when it finally happened they refused to believe it. Suddenly, it was too incredible of a thing to believe. They went to synagogue every Sabbath and shook their heads that God is he Almighty and that God is the Creator of all things, and that God raised the dead even in the Old testament through his prophets Elijah and Elisha. But their belief didn't penetrate into reality. Actually, they were in darkness. When they refused to believe in Jesus, saying that he was dead. So their eyes remained closed. They didn't see that he is the fulfillment of all God has promised his people, such as the Messiah and king, the kingdom of God, and being a people of God forgiven of their sins. 

But Paul’s point was not to condemn them. In fact, Paul had been just like them in this regard as well. Look at verse 9.  "I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth." I don’t know who convinced him, but somehow he got duped. He was earnestly serving God, and yet zealously opposing Jesus. What did he do? Look at verses 10-11. "And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. [11] Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them."

But one day Jesus appeared to Paul and opened his eyes to who he is. Lets look at verses 12-15. "On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. [13] About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. [14] We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' [15] "Then I asked, `Who are you, Lord?' " `I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied."

When Jesus appeared to Paul, Paul realized that it was the Lord. But he also realized that he did not know who the Lord really is. He had only one question during this encounter, "Who are you, Lord?" the Lord knew who Paul was, but Paul did not know who the Lord is.

This is so striking and embarrassing for Paul because he thought he was serving God. He said that he was "convinced" that he was supposed to do all that was possible to oppose Jesus. Somehow he got duped and was convinced to do the wrong thing. How could a man with a background like Paul's go in such the wrong way while being convinced he was going in the right way? If even Paul was like this who knew he bible so well, how about others like the non Pharisee Jews and gentiles?

Look at verse 14. Jesus described what he was doing as kicking against the goads. A goad is a tool used to prod animals who are being stubborn and going the wrong way. Jesus made this very clear by saying it twice to Paul. "Why do you persecute me?" and "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." To say kicking against the goads also shows that the Lord had tried to help Paul. Paul had the benefit of a life’s training and discipline in the scripture. Paul also witnessed the lords work when he participated in murdering Stephen. 

Paul’s question to the Lord exposed his problem: he did not know who the Lord is, that is, Jesus. Of course, the Lord knew his problem and in his mercy appeared to Paul and revealed himself. And the revelation of who Jesus is solved Paul’s problem. In 1 Timothy 1:13, Paul confessed, "Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief." 

Jesus’ mercy and revelation also came with apostleship, that is, a mission. Look at verse 16. "`Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you."

First, he told Paul to “get up and stand on your feet.” Paul must have been so embarrassed and ashamed of his sin. But Jesus told him to get up and stand up and take his position as a servant of God. Jesus helped Paul to get out of the mud and into a new life as a servant of God. As of first importance, in view of Jesus’ mercy, we have to get up and stand up as his servants. As we do, it is the way to begin walking in the new life in him. When we get up, we show his mercy. We show that I am a sinner, but Jesus showed mercy to me and gave me a new life. The position then as a servant of God means that my view of myself, others, the purpose of life and death, all changes to have meaning in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the right path of life. He is life. So Paul braved hardships and persecutions, isolation, mocking, all to follow Jesus. Paul was not accepted at first by his family, peers, even some members of the church. But he stood as a servant of Jesus according to his word, and he set the right example. 

To stand as a servant of Jesus and show his mercy will definitely bring conflict from our family members, peers at school, at work, etc. all places. And the pressure is very high, even from our past sin to bother us. But Jesus words call us to him and obedience to this word sets us free. 

The words, “I have appeared to you...” are the foundation for us to get up and stand up for Jesus. He appeared to us and showed mercy, which we cannot deny. So we have to put all other things out, and stand because of the truth that Jesus appeared and showed mercy. 

What was the mission Jesus gave him? It was to be a “servant and witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.” The content of Paul’s witnessing is Jesus, that is, what Paul had seen and what Jesus would show him further. This is because fundamentally, Paul’s problem was not unique to him, it is the problem of all people, and the solution is the same: beginning with opening one’s eyes to who Jesus is.

Let’s look at verses 17-18. “[17] I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them [18] to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."

Here Jesus mentions the condition of people very clearly. Closed eyes, in darkness, under the power of Satan, condemned in sin, and having no place with God. Those who are not in Jesus are under the power of Satan. It’s a real power that deceives many and leads them to hell.

But as one’s eyes are opened to Jesus, Jesus sets him free to come out of darkness and into his wonderful light, to the power of God and to receive forgiveness of sins and a place with God the Father. Opening one’s eyes to Jesus’ is the beginning for the work of salvation. These are the contents of Paul’s mission. And we can see now why he labored so much for his flock. He wasn’t just a preacher or information booth, but a shepherd who helped his flock to know all these things and receive the forgiveness of sins and secure a place in Jesus. And we too have to pray to help our flock as well to the end. 

So we see the importance of the mission to open people’s eyes to who Jesus is. Look again at verse 16. “witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.” In one moment, Paul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” And just a moment later, the Lord told him to witness of “what you have seen of me and what I will show.” So we can say that Paul knew little about the Lord at that moment. But still it was enough for him to witness of. And Jesus would reveal himself more and more to Paul as Paul obeyed him.

Even if you know a little about Jesus, that is enough for you to witness of. Because of that knowledge of Jesus, you could receive mercy and calling to a new life, and that is what you need to witness of. As we witness, Jesus reveals himself more and more. So that people in Jesus for along time have a lot of revelation to witness of. 

In my case, I grew up in a several churches, but didn’t know Jesus. I looked at a statue of Jesus hanging on a cross every Sunday at the altar, but I didn’t know what it meant. However, one day at the Summer Bible conference, I heard the message on Matthew 9:12-13, and I learned a little bit about Jesus. My eyes were opened to who Jesus is. The verse read, “On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” I learned that I’m sick because of sin, but Jesus came to heal me and he died on a cross to heal me. The next day I began college. And I was compelled to tell about Jesus. But I didn’t know anything except: he heals because he died on the cross for our sins. So I told my fellow students, “You’re sick!” And through that I invited many to Bible study. Now more than 10 years have gone by and I have learned much more about Jesus. He faithfully revealed himself more and more. There are many people who have been in Jesus for a long time and have much revelation to share with us. 

Let’s pray together to invite many to our Christmas Worship Service at Cal Poly Pomona on Dec. 19 that they may know Jesus who came as a lowly child in a manger to be the shepherd of his people. This is a very, very important event to invite people to so that they may know about Jesus who came as our shepherd. 

Look at verse 19 again. Paul was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. He stood firm in Jesus’ mercy and followed the Lord’s direction obediently. God gives great vision in Jesus. But vision is not like fortune telling. Vision from God is something we must obey, it requires obedience. and Paul was so active to remain obedient to the vision and struggle against his sinful nature, especially for the world mission command. He did not sit back idly, but obeyed no matter what, braving all kinds of hardships and persecutions. Obedience to the Lord’s direction and word is the key to growing as his servant.

Verses 20-23 tell us how Paul practically helped people to know Jesus. He taught the bible and preached repentance, a genuine repentance which is shown through our deeds not just our words. And God helped him to that very day. God didn’t help him by keeping him out of trouble or poverty. But he helped him to keep on witnessing about who Jesus is. But in fact Paul was not alone. Jesus was with him. All the Bible talks about Jesus and reveals that he is the first to rise from the dead and then he would problem light to his people and to the Gentiles. So Paul was coworking with Jesus in proclaiming light to all people. And he picked up the hope of resurrection to follow just as Jesus had been resurrected. So we need to seek God’s help in our Bible studies remembering that the point of the Scriptures is Jesus Christ who died for the our sins and rose again to secure a position before God for all who believe in him. It means that he is leading us home to our father in heaven. 

This then tells us the importance of repentance. Repentance before the word of God is the key to having a working and growing knowledge of Jesus. And so Paul taught all people to prove their repentance by their deeds. We have to show it outwardly. 

The problem is that we are so adverse to repentance. The Jews had seized Paul and tried to kill him because of his preaching repentance. 2,000 years later and people have not changed. Still today people are most easily offended by the message of repentance and obedience. but repentance is the way to a working relationship with Jesus.

When Festus interrupted, Paul used it to help Agrippa make a personal decision regarding Jesus. Look at verses 25-27. Paul asked Agrippa, “do you believe the prophets?” But he didn’t wait for Agrippa to answer. He answered for him, “I know you do.” but Agrippa avoided the question by responding, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” It seems that he was more concerned about how he would be classified, that is, as a Christian, rather than opening his heart to who Jesus is. Paul didn’t use the word “Christian”, he only said, “those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Many today are also concerned about how they will be classified by others, rather than how they will be viewed by God and thus remain with closed eyes and under the power of Satan. Christians are easily categorized or written off as uneducated people or closed minded people or ignorant. But today’s passage reveals that it is those who are in Jesus, who know him, who are truly enlightened and they will be viewed by God as sanctified in Jesus and he will secure a place in his house for them. And those who are not in Jesus are outside and not included. 

 

Look at verse 29. Paul shared that the time is not the point. It was his prayer for Agrippa and all people to become a Christian. But still Agrippa closed his heart and eyes and the officials got up and left. Then they sent Paul to Rome. 

We thank God for showing mercy to us by sending Jesus Christ. We thank God for today’s passage which teaches us the importance of knowing Jesus and living of life of sincere repentance and obedience before his word. May God also use us as his servants to witness of Jesus and bring many from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.

One Word: Witness of me

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