of = in. Greek. en . App-104 . throughout . Greek. eis . App-104 . repent . Greek. metanoeo. App-111 . meet = worthy of, or answering to. Compare Matthew 3:8 . repentance . Greek. metanoia. App-111 . read more
Wherefore, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: both to them of Damascus first, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judaea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.I was not disobedient ... This has the effect of saying: O king, you could not expect me to have violated a voice from heaven.Damascus first, and at Jerusalem ... Paul's words here are not exactly clear; because, as was evident in... read more
19-21. Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision—This musical and elevated strain, which carries the reader along with it, and doubtless did the hearers, bespeaks the lofty region of thought and feeling to which the apostle had risen while rehearsing his Master's communications to him from heaven. read more
20. showed . . . to them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem—omitting Arabia; because, beginning with the Jews, his object was to mention first the places where his former hatred of the name of Christ was best known: the mention of the Gentiles, so unpalatable to his audience, is reserved to the last. repent and return to God, and do works meet for repentance—a brief description of conversion and its proper fruits, suggested, probably, by the Baptist's teaching (Luke 3:7; Luke 3:8). read more
Paul’s speech to the dignitaries 26:1-23Paul was not on trial here. When he had appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:11), he had guaranteed that his next trial would be before the emperor. This was just a hearing designed to acquaint Agrippa with Paul’s case so Agrippa could give Festus help in understanding it and communicating it to the emperor."This testimony of Paul is not a defense of himself. It is a declaration of the gospel with the evident purpose of winning Agrippa and the others present to... read more
We should probably understand Acts 26:20 as a general description of Paul’s ministry rather than as a strictly chronological reference in view of Acts 9:20-30 and Galatians 1:18-24."Repent" again means essentially to change the mind. Note the distinction between repenting and performing deeds appropriate to repentance that Paul made in Acts 26:20."What is repentance? It is a complete change of attitude. It is a right-about-face. Here is a man who is going on living in open, flagrant sin, and he... read more
Defence before Agrippa1-32. St. Paul before Agrippa. This speech, though in form a defence to the Jews, is really intended by St. Luke to be St. Paul’s defence to the world—an apology for his whole life and work.Analysis. Opening compliment to Agrippa (Acts 26:2-3); the Apostle’s orthodox Pharisaic education (Acts 26:4-5); he is really called in question because he believes in the hope of all orthodox Jews, the coming of the Messiah, and the Resurrection (Acts 26:6-8); his persecution of the... read more
(19) I was not disobedient.—Literally, I did not become disobedient. The language of the Apostle is significant in its bearing on the relations of God’s grace and man’s freedom. Even here, with the “vessel of election” (Acts 9:15) “constrained” by the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14), there was the possibility of disobedience. There was an act of will in passing from the previous state of rebellion to that of obedience.The heavenly vision . . .—The noun is used of Zachariah’s vision in the... read more
(20) But shewed . . .—The verb is in the tense which sums up a long-continued activity, and stands in the Greek after the enumeration of those to whom the Apostle preached: But first to them of Damascus . . . and to the Gentiles I went on showing . . .Throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles.—The words refer, in the first instance, to the visit after St. Paul’s conversion (see Notes on Acts 9:29; Galatians 1:17-18); but the special mention of the Gentiles as following upon... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 26:19
disobedient . Gr . apeithes. Compare App-150 . Occurs elsewhere Luke 1:17 . Rom 1:30 . 2 Timothy 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:16 ; Tit 8:3 . "Not disobedient", which means emphatically "obedient", is the Figure of speech Tapeinosis. App-6 . unto = to. heavenly . Greek. ouranios. Only here, Matthew 6:14 , Matthew 6:26 , Matthew 6:32 ; Matthew 15:13 .Luke 2:13 . vision . Greek. optasia . Only here, Luke 1:22 ; Luke 24:23 . 2 Corinthians 12:1 . read more