Acts 26:13-16 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 26:12-23

All who believe a God, and have a reverence for his sovereignty, must acknowledge that those who speak and act by his direction, and by warrant from him, are not to be opposed; for that is fighting against God. Now Paul here, by a plain and faithful narrative of matters of fact, makes it out to this august assembly that he had an immediate call from heaven to preach the gospel of Christ to the Gentile world, which was the thing that exasperated the Jews against him. He here shows, I. That he... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 26:12-18

26:12-18 "When, in these circumstances, I was on my way to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, as I was on the road at midday, I saw, your Majesty. a light from heaven, more brilliant than the sun, shining round about me and my fellow-travellers. When we had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the spikes.' I said, 'Who are you, sir' The Lord replied, 'I... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:13

At midday, O king ,.... So in Acts 12:6 . This circumstance is omitted in Acts 9:3 . King Agrippa is called upon by the apostle, to excite his attention to what he was about to relate, it being very wonderful, and of great importance. I saw in the way ; that is, to Damascus, when near the city; a light from heaven ; which descended from thence: above the brightness of the sun ; it was a greater light than that, or otherwise it could not have been discerned at noon, or have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:14

And when we were all fallen to the earth ,.... Saul, and the men that were with him, for fear of the divine Majesty, who by this extraordinary light was thought to be present: the other narratives only relate Saul's falling to the earth; how this is to be reconciled to their standing speechless, in Acts 9:7 ; see Gill on Acts 9:7 . I heard a voice speaking unto me , &c.; See Gill on Acts 10:4 . See Gill on Acts 10:5 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:15

And I said, who art thou, Lord? and he said ,.... Or "the Lord said", as the Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions read, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest ; the Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, "Jesus of Nazareth"; See Gill on Acts 9:5 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:16

But rise and stand upon thy feet ,.... This, and what follows in this and the two next verses, are not in any of the former accounts; and these words are used not only because Saul was fallen to the earth, and are an encouragement to rise up, and stand corporeally, but to take heart, and be of good cheer; for though he had acted so vile and cruel a part by Christ, and his people, yet he had designs of grace, and good will to him; and this appearance was not for his destruction, but for his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 26:16

But rise, etc. - The particulars mentioned here, and in the two following verses, are not given in Acts 9:1-9 , nor in Acts 22:6-11 , where he gives an account of his conversion. He has detailed the different circumstances of that important event, as he saw it necessary; and perhaps there were several others which then took place, that he had no opportunity of mentioning, because there was nothing in succeeding occurrences which rendered it necessary to produce them. To make thee a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 26:13

Verse 13− 13.At midday, O king. The narration tendeth to this end, that king Agrippa may understand that it was no vain visure or ghost, neither was it any such trance as brought him into some madness, so that he was destitute of judgment. − (620) For though he fell to the earth for fear, yet he heareth a plain voice; he asketh who it was that spake; he understandeth the answer which was made, which are signs that he was not beside himself. Hereupon it followeth that he did not rashly change... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 26:16

Verse 16− 16.But rise. Christ did throw down Paul that he might humble him; now he lifteth him up, and biddeth him be of good courage. And even we are daily thrown down by his voice to this end, that we may be taught to be modest; but look whom he throweth down, he doth raise the same again gently. And this is no small consolation, when Christ saith that he appeared to him not as a revenger to plague him − (621) for his madness, for those stripes which he had unjustly and cruelly given, for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 26:1-26

The apology. We are struck with a contrast between the conduct of our Lord when he stood before the bar of Caiaphas and of Pontius Pilate, and that of St. Paul when he was brought before Festus and Agrippa. It is written of Jesus, when the Jews accused him before Caiaphas, that "he held his peace." And again, as he stood before Pontius Pilate the governor, when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, that he answered nothing. And even when Pilate himself appealed to him, he gave... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 26:12-23

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 26:12-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 26:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 26:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 26:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 26:1-26

Group of Brands