FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

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.’

Who was Agrippa? What did Paul know about him? (2-3) What was known about Paul? (4-5) According to Paul, why was he on trial? (6) What was his hope? (6-8) How was Paul similar to the Jews accusing him? What made the difference between them, although they had the same hope? 

**A king whom was standing trial before. Festus called him to assistance to find a charge to bring against Paul in order to send him before Caesar’s court. King Agrippa had a reputation for studying and Jewish customs and controversies, as Paul mentions in verses 2-3. He had been given authority to appoint the high priests for the Jews.

**He had been raised and trained as a Jew, in the strictest way as a Pharisee, just like those who were trying to accuse him now [of deviating and teaching against the Jewish ways, etc.]. 

**He was standing trial “because of [his[ hope.” 

**In the resurrection of the dead. Here he says:

“my hope in what God has promised our fathers.”

“This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night.”

Here Paul says that the hope of resurrection is fulfilled in Jesus. God had promised it along time before Paul’s day—“to our fathers”. In fact, those who were accusing also had this hope and were “earnestly serving God day and night.”

**The difference between them was their knowledge of Jesus. They did not have a right knowledge of Jesus, so rather than seeing their hope fulfilled, they persecuted Paul and Jesus.

How had Paul viewed Jesus and his followers? (9) To what lengths had he opposed the name of Jesus? (10-11) What happened to Paul on one of his journeys? (12-15) What is a goad? In what way was Paul like an animal kicking against the goads? (14) What did Jesus reveal about himself to Paul? How does this solve Paul's problem? 

**He “too” was convinced that he had to oppose the name of Jesus doing “all that was possible”, just like the Jews were doing now. 

**He persecuted them, assisted in putting them in prison and to death, and even to foreign cities.

**Jesus appeared to him and revealed himself to Paul. He told Paul that he had chosen him to be his servant and witness of him.

**A goad is a tool with a sharp end used to prod animals. It is usually used for stubborn animals who do not go the right way the master wants them to go.

**Although Paul was filled up and trained with all the knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures all his life, and had a hope in God, he did not know Jesus, so he ended up doing the exact opposite of what God wanted for him. The description of kicking against a goad tells us that Jesus was trying to get in the right direction, but Paul was disobeying the Lord’s direction and hurting himself. This could be giving him the right direction through the Scriptures, and through events like witnessing Stephen’s martyrdom and seeing first hand how Stephen saw the Lord and prayed for those who were persecuting him with the image of Jesus. 

**He revealed who he is to Paul. Paul’s first and only question was, “Who are you, Lord?” He did not know who the Lord is, even though he thought he was serving the Lord earnestly all his life. The Lord responded to Paul, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” He was the Lord, Jesus, the same Jesus whom he was persecuting. In revealing himself, he also revealed Paul’s sin and ignorance. But it was the Lord’s grace that Paul might know who the Lord is and obey him in the right way.

To what task did Jesus appoint Paul? (16-18) What fundamental problem do all people have? (18) What are the characteristics of those under the power of Satan? How is Jesus working to solve this problem? What did Jesus promise for those who turn to God? What do these verses teach about the importance of knowing Jesus? 

**See verses 16-18. Mainly, “Of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.” His witness is all about who Jesus is. 

**Not knowing who the Lord Jesus is.

**closed eyes, darkness, under Satan’s power, condemned in sin, no place with God.

**He sends his servants to witness of him. The solution is knowing Jesus.

**”forgiveness of sins and a place among those sanctified by faith in me.” It is the promise of new life and hope in the kingdom of heaven.

**Not knowing Jesus is the fundamental problem of all people. Therefore it is of utmost importance that each person come to know the Lord Jesus in a right way. It is for this purpose that the Lord sends his servants into the world. 

How had Paul responded to Jesus? (19-23) What did Paul preach? Why is it important to "prove" one's repentance? Why did the Jews oppose Paul because of what he preached? Yet, how did God help him? Why was it important that his message was rooted in the scriptures? (22b-23)

**He was obedient to Jesus. He was probably very conscious now of his obedience so as not to remain like an animal kicking against the goads.

**repentance, turning to God, and proving repentance by one’s deeds.

**Not to prove before man, but to help those turning to God commit themselves fully to the Lord. It is the way of accepting the Lord’s grace and mercy.

**They did not want to repent. They were proud and thought that they did not need to repent for they were already in the right way. Their hearts were closed and they remained in darkness.

**The Lord saved Paul to that very day. But he did not save him from persecutions or hardships or prison. He preserved his life so that he would continue to witness of Jesus to all people, even as he was doing that day.

**To show that this work is from God.

Why do you think Festus interrupted? (24) How did Paul use this interruption to speak to Agrippa? (25-27) How did Agrippa respond? (28) Why do you think he avoided Paul's question? What was Paul's prayer for Agrippa and for all those listening? (29) What was Agrippa's conclusion? (30-32)

**He did not want to repent either.

**Again, he used Agrippa’s familiarity with Jewish customs and Christianity to appeal to him again—not as a prisoner before a judge, but as a witness of Jesus to one who is darkness.

**He avoided Paul’s question.

**He was proud. And so he too closed his heart and remained in darkness.

**That they would be like him, that is, having a knowledge and hope in Jesus Christ—except for the chains.

**He left Paul there, but concluded that he had done nothing deserving death. He avoided talking to Paul further, as Paul was clearly cornering Agrippa. He did not want to make a decision about Jesus. But in doing so, he made the decision to not know Jesus at the most opportune time.

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