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Act 26:17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now
send you,

Paul will be supernaturally delivered from religious Jews and Gentile heathen. Paul is called to
preach to the Gentiles (Galatians 2:8), but always has a place in his heart for the Jewish people
(Romans 9:1-3; 10:1).

Act 26:18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power
of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who
are sanctified by faith in Me.'

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power (exousia:
authority) of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness (remission) of sins, and
inheritance among them; which are sanctified (positional) by faith that is in (deposited in) me.

Unbelievers have been blinded by sin and Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4), but the Word of God brings
light (Ephesians 1:17-18). With the entrance of the gospel and repentance, their eyes are
opened, and they can see the Word (light) and walk toward it. Sinners receive forgiveness
because everything has been provided (2 Peter 1:3). Man’s part is to simply accept the free gift
as an act of his will.

PAUL RECOUNTS HIS LIFE AFTER CONVERSION (19-23)

Paul then testifies about obeying the “heavenly vision” in taking the gospel to the Gentiles. He
explains how the Jews tried to kill him. Paul continues by testifying that he had witnessed and
continues witnessing about Jesus’ suffering, dying, and being the first raised from the dead for
both Jews and Gentiles.

Act 26:19 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

Whereupon (God visiting and instructing me), O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the
heavenly vision:

Paul received Jesus when he saw the vision and also accepted the call to minister to the
Gentiles.

26:19 Being Obedient to the Heavenly Vision, PROPHETIC DREAMS AND VISIONS. For
vision surrounded Paul’s conversion and Acts: Steven’s stoning (7:55, 58-59), Paul’s
experience near Damascus (9:3), Paul’s vision in prayer (verses 11-12), and Ananias’s
vision (verse 10, 17). Each time, Paul testified that the Lord spoke to him in a vision. His
defense against those who thought him to be a heretic was that he “was not
disobedient to the heavenly vision” (26:19).

As Charles Spurgeon said, “we must take care that we do not neglect heavenly
monitions through fear of being considered visionary; we must not be staggered even