The-Rock-Talk #20

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Turning the Tide
Acts 26:13-18:
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

A light from heaven: nothing less than an act of God could have changed the zealot Saul into the apostle Paul.

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Against the pricks: like an ox that kicks against it's master's sharp goading stick, Paul was struggling against his conscience and the call of God upon his life.

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

I am Jesus whom you are persecuting: you are sinning against Me but I am forgiving you.

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Things which you have seen: this revelation of the risen Christ.

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

Gentiles unto whom I now send you: Paul's primary calling was to Gentile evangelism. The fact that Paul was born in the Gentile city of Tarsus uniquely qualified him for this ministry.

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

From darkness to light: God's enlightenment promised by the prophets had come. To follow Christ meant leaving the reign of Satan and submitting to the control of God. Both forgiveness and sanctification come by faith in Christ. Those who are forgiven receive and inheritance among those who are sanctified. Faith on the part of a believer brings forth many benefits, not the least of which is a place in the company of saints, a place found both in the temporal fellowship of the church and the eternal abode of heaven.

   ---by Keith R. Vaughan