Sha’ul’s Appears Before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa ~ Part 7

We continue in the Book of Acts. Sha’ul’s Appears to the Roman Authorities beginning in Acts 26:8.

Sha’ul Tells of His Mission ~ Part 2

26 ⁸ Why do you people consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

Why do you people consider it incredible that God raises the dead? There is a tendency among liberal scholars to regard Yeshua’s Resurrection not as an event in verifiable human history but as a subjective event in the realm of faith. This is not the Bible’s approach at all. As you go about your day-to-day life, you might encounter skeptics who question the truth of the Resurrection. Prepare yourself for these conversations by studying Acts 26:8 and practicing your responses. This week, find one person you can engage in a respectful debate on faith. By sharing your perspective and listening to others, you can witness how understanding differing viewpoints can reinforce your belief and display the hope of Yeshua in a rapidly questioning world.

⁹ “I used to think it was my duty to do all I could to combat the name of Yeshua from Natzeret; ¹⁰ and in Yerushalayim I did so. After receiving authority from the head cohanim, I myself threw many of God’s people in prison; when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

I cast my vote against them. This phrase, taken literally, constitutes evidence that Sha’ul was at one time a member of the Sanhedrin (Acts 7:58, 8:1, 23:1; Galatians 1:14). But the expression may be literal in a context other than the Great Sanhedrin, or it may be figurative, meaning only that he too favored punishing Yeshua’s followers with death.

 ¹¹ Often I went from one synagogue to another, punishing them and trying to make them blaspheme; and in my wild fury against them, I even went so far as to persecute them in cities outside the country.

Trying to make them blaspheme, that is, trying to make them denounce Yeshua by threatening them with death unless they recanted.

¹² “On one such occasion, I was traveling to Dammesek with the full authority and power of the head cohanim. ¹³ I was on the road, and it was noon, your Majesty, when I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my traveling companions. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and then I heard a voice saying to me, in Hebrew, ‘Sha’ul! Sha’ul! Why do you keep persecuting me? It’s hard on you to be kicking against the ox-goads!’ ¹⁵ I said, ‘Who are you, sir?’ and the Lord answered, ‘I am Yeshua, and you are persecuting me!

This is Sha’ul’s third version of his encounter with Yeshua on the road to Damascus, the others being in Acts 9:3–19 and Acts 22:5–16. Some details in the reports differ. In chapter 9, the light is said to have flashed around Sha’ul and his companions; in the other tellings, it surrounded Sha’ul. In chapter 9, his companions stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one; in chapter 22, they saw the light but did not hear the voice of the speaker; and here, in chapter 26, they all fell to the ground. Each telling, having its purpose and being directed to a particular audience, emphasizes different aspects of what happened. Here is a composite consistent with all three versions. The light surrounded both Sha’ul and his companions. They all saw the light, but only Sha’ul saw Yeshua. They all heard some sound, but only Sha’ul heard distinct words. All fell to the ground, but Sha’ul’s companions got up again. Understood as what it is described as being a supernatural event, no further explanation is needed. However, some who do not believe in paranormal events have attempted to “demythologize” Sha’ul’s“conversion experience” as a combination of coincidences, psychotic or epileptic seizures, and embellishments.

¹⁶ But get up and stand on your feet! I have appeared to you to appoint you to serve and bear witness to what you have already seen of me and to what you will see when I appear to you in the future. ¹⁷ I will deliver you from the People and from the Goyim. I am sending you ¹⁸ to open their eyes so that they will turn from darkness to light, from the power of the Adversary to God, and thus receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who have been separated for holiness by putting their trust in me.’

These three verses are not included in the accounts of Sha’ul’s conversion in chapters Acts 9 or 22, even though the mention of Sha’ul’s ministry to the Gentiles was a message given to Ananias in Damascus (Acts 9:15; 22:15). Many scholars believe the essence of Sha’ul’s mission to the Gentiles was revealed to him at the time of his conversion. Indeed, these three verses summarize Sha’ul’s ministry to both Jews and Gentiles.

¹⁹ “So, King Agrippa, I did not disobey the vision from heaven! ²⁰ On the contrary, I announced first in Dammesek, then in Yerushalayim and throughout Y’hudah, and also to the Goyim, that they should turn from their sins to God and then do deeds consistent with that repentance. ²¹ It was because of these things that Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me.

Sha’ul’s faithfulness to the vision from heaven was the very reason the Jews seized him and wanted him dead. Thus, Sha’ul’s stance is reminiscent of the one taken by Kefa and the Emissaries in Acts 5:29, where they said, “We must obey God rather than men.” This is living out the principle Yeshua taught in Mattityahu 10:28

 ²² However, I have had God’s help; so to this day, I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what both the prophets and Moshe said would happen—²³ that the Messiah would die, and that he, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to both the People and the Goyim.” ^[1]

In our next post, we will continue to learn about Sha’ul’s Appearances Before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa.

Click here for the PDF version.

^[1] Acts 26:8–23.