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Acts 26:16

in Acts 26

‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee;

KJV

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;

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This verse in Acts 26

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

But rise, etc. - The particulars mentioned here, and in the two following verses, are not given in Act 9:1-9, nor in Act 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.

This site's exposition

whom you are persecuting

on Acts 26:15-16

The answer “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” identifies Christ with the church Paul was dragging to prison, as at 9:4 and 22:8. It is the ground of the teaching that Christ suffers in His members.

This site's exposition

a servant and as a witness

Adam Clarke notes that these words and the two verses after them stand in neither road account, at 9:1-9 or 22:6-11. Albert Barnes explains why Paul gives them here, since they show his authority for preaching to the Gentiles. Only Paul saw Christ in the light, as Matthew Henry notes.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 52 · Written before 407.

proposed

Since he has mentioned the vision, he then without fear goes on to speak also of the good wrought by it. "To turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. For to this end have I appeared unto thee," not to punish, but to make thee an Apostle. He shows the evils which possess unbelievers, "Satan, darkness;" the good things belonging to believers, light, God, "the inheritance of the saints."

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

): I have appeared to thee for this purpose. Christ was in this light, though those that travelled with Paul saw the light only, and not Christ in the light. It is not every knowledge that will serve to make us Christians, but it must be the knowledge of Christ.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens

But rise and stand upon thy feet,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

BEHOLD an amazing sight! Saul of Tarsus at the feet of Jesus of Nazareth! Listen! The persecutor's voice is changed into that of an enquiring disciple. He asks, "What will You have me to do?" If angels sang with delight over a new-made world, their song must have been seven times as joyous over a new-made Apostle! The change was miraculous. At this distance of time we can hardly appreciate it, but if we had been living in daily fear of our lives—if we had seen our father or our brother dragged off to death by this ferocious enemy of the Cross—and then had suddenly heard that he was converted to the faith which he opposed, we would have cried, "Incredible!" For the Ethiopian to change his skin, or for the leopard to lose his spots would be little compared with this cruel Pharisee bowing himself in lowly penitence before the Lord Jesus whom He had persecuted! Do you wonder that when Saul came to Jerusalem and assayed to join himself to the disciples, they were all afraid of him and believed not that he was a disciple? My Brothers and Sisters, as in history, so in the Grace of God, it is the unexpected which frequently occurs! The men and women whom I expected to confess Christ long ago have not yet come. I have seen Felix tremble, but I have not seen him converted. I have seen Agrippa almost persuaded, but he is not yet a Christian. Meanwhile, I have beheld a Saul of Tarsus, who, before, raged against the Cross, bowing himself submissively before the Lord Jesus! Let us never be discouraged, but let us expect to see signs and wonders in the world of Divine Grace! Though priestcraft is far too dominant in our land, we may yet hear that "a great company of the priests" has believed in Christ.
BEHOLD an amazing sight! Saul of Tarsus at the feet of Jesus of Nazareth! Listen! The persecutor's voice is changed into that of an enquiring disciple. He asks, "What will You have me to do?" If angels sang with delight over a new-made world, their song must have been seven times as joyous over a new-made Apostle! The change was miraculous.
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

But rise ... - The particulars mentioned in this verse and the two following are not recorded in the account of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9; but it is not improbable that many circumstances may have occurred which are not recorded. Paul dwells on them here at length in order particularly to show his authority for doing what he had done in preaching to the Gentiles. To make thee a minister - A minister of the gospel; a preacher of the truth. And a witness - See the notes on Act 22:15. Which thou hast seen - On the road to Damascus; that is, of the Lord Jesus, and of the fact that he was risen from the dead. And of those things ... - Of those further manifestations of my person, purposes, and will, which I will yet make to you. It is evident from this that the Lord Jesus promised to manifest himself to Paul in his ministry, and to make to him still further displays of his will and glory. Compare Act 22:17-18. This was done by his rescuing him from destruction and danger; by inspiration; by the growing and expanding view which Paul was permitted to take of the character and perfections of the Lord Jesus. In this we see that it is the duty of ministers to bear witness not only to the truth of religion in general, or of that which they can demonstrate by argument, but more especially of that which they experience in their own hearts, and which they understand by having themselves been the subjects of it. No man is qualified to enter the ministry who has not a personal saving view of the glory and perfections of the Lord Jesus, and who does not go to his work as a witness of those things which he has felt; and no man enters the ministry with these feelings who has not, as Paul had, a promise that he shall see still brighter displays of the perfections of the Saviour, and be permitted to advance in the knowledge of him and of his work. […]

The words behind it

26 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Luke 1:2just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.12 works1 Corinthians 15:8And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.9 worksActs 22:14–15Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear His voice.7 worksRevelation 1:2who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.7 worksDaniel 10:11He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling.5 worksEzekiel 2:1“Son of man,” He said to me, “stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”5 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Timothy 1:12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.4 worksRomans 15:16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.4 worksGalatians 1:12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.4 worksActs 9:6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”4 works2 Corinthians 4:1Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart.3 worksColossians 1:23if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.3 worksRomans 1:5Through Him and on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship to call all those among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.3 worksActs 23:11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”3 works2 Corinthians 12:1–7I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.3 worksColossians 1:25I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God,3 worksEphesians 3:7–8I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.3 worksGalatians 2:2I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.3 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Timothy 1:12

    I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.

    it leads to

    • Philippians 4:13

      I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

    • 2 Timothy 4:17

      But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of…

    • 2 Corinthians 12:9–10

      But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…

    • Colossians 1:25

      I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God,

  • Through

    Romans 15:16

    to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy…

    it leads to

    • Romans 11:13

      I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry

    • Romans 1:1

      Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God—

    • Acts 9:15

      “Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.

  • Through

    Ezekiel 2:1

    “Son of man,” He said to me, “stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”

    it leads to

    • Daniel 10:11

      He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to…

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 26 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1774: “God's Work Upon Minister and Convert” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 52; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Acts 26 →