CHANGED AND APPOINTED
CHANGED AND APPOINTED
My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. —Acts 26:4-5
But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. —Acts 26:16-20
And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” —Acts 26:24
And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” —Acts 26:29
Saul’s life he lived was known by others before Jesus appeared to him. The Jews knew the details of his life. So it is with us. There are those who knew how we used to live before we called on Jesus to save us. Now they should see the change, just as the Jews saw the change in Saul’s life.
Our Lord appeared to Saul for a purpose and that was—
- To appoint Saul a servant
- To appoint him a witness
- To witness to the things he has seen
- To witness to the things Jesus would show him
- To be delivered from the Jews
- To be delivered from the Gentiles
- To be sent by Jesus to open the eyes of others
- To turn them from darkness to light
- To turn them from the power of Satan to God
- To enable them to receive forgiveness of sins
- To enable them a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus
Saul was obedient and “declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. Festus told Paul, “You are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” But King Agrippa said, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”
Two very different responses— Festus thought what Paul was saying was lunacy, but King Agrippa understood that Paul desired others to know Jesus, including himself. We also will get different responses, but let us persevere in sharing the gospel as Paul did. Yes, Dear Father, may it be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. Yes, so may it be! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyFNAs2jRjU