Acts 26:16-18 ¹⁶But rise and stand on your feet, for this I have appeared to you, to appoint you as an assistant and witness of the things you have seen in me and of the things I will appear to you, ¹⁷rescuing you from your people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you ¹⁸in order to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Paul used the opportunity of standing before the leaders of Judea, most of whom were likely Gentiles, to preach the gospel. Beginning in verse 16, he strategically recounted details of his vision of the risen Jesus that would specifically speak to the spiritual needs of his audience. First, Jesus stated the core purpose (for this, eis touto) of Paul’s calling to be a servant and witness. The word assistant (hypēretēn) means someone who serves and works under a leader, such as in the government or medical field. Paul was to work under Jesus, who was the leader, and follow his example. Witness (martyra) is the common word in the New Testament for bearing witness or testimony about Jesus. It was the central task Jesus left with his disciples (1:8). With these two words, Paul took the burden of proof from himself and put it on Jesus. Paul was only doing as Jesus directed him to do. He was imitating Christ, thereby setting an example for others (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul would receive further revelation from the risen Jesus, as indicated by the future tense of “will appear” (ophthēsomai).

Jesus also gave Paul a promise in verse 17. Paul would not be alone, and he was not alone, even as he stood before the important people in Caesarea. Jesus would see Paul through the many trials. Jesus foretold to Paul that he would face trouble from Jews and Gentiles, a fact that came true in most places he traveled. Yet, Paul stayed true, possibly because he had this promise of deliverance, which is confidently echoed in Philippians 1:21.

Verse 18 conveys the specific message Paul was to preach and contains the core of the good news that Paul shared with Agrippa, Bernice, Festus, and all the other important people present. This verse contains four significant statements about the process of salvation. The first is the opening of eyes, which refers to the realization of the truth, the awareness of a better way, the dawning of hope. This opening comes because someone has shared the good news of Jesus, which is what Paul was doing in his defense. Second, once the light has come, a person must repent and turn from the darkness and Satan’s influence to the light of God. The problem, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:4, is that Satan blinds people to the light of the glory of Christ. They need someone who can see to guide them out of the darkness.

Third, God’s response to the person’s repentance is forgiveness of sins. The past old life in sin and the condemnation that comes as a consequence are removed. Those who believe in Jesus, as Paul did, can have their sins forgiven. The message about the possibility of the forgiveness of sin was a core message of the early church (see Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 10:43; 13:38). Fourth, as a result of the forgiveness, the new believers would be made holy, sanctified (hēgiasmenois) by faith in Jesus. Sanctification is part of the growth process that continues after forgiveness. In these brief verses, Paul laid out the hope of salvation, and it all depended on faith in Jesus.