Chapter Twenty-Six — Part Three: The Book of Acts
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 04/16/2023
Foundation Scriptures:Acts 26:18-20
1. Commissioned.
a. Jesus called and commissioned Paul to preach to the Gentiles.
b. Acts 26:18 AMPC — To open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may thus receive forgiveness and release from their sins and a place and portion among those who are consecrated and purified by faith in Me.
c. The purpose of preaching—and the blessing of receiving—the Gospel:
- Eyes being opened.
- Turned from darkness to light.
- Delivered from Satan’s power.
- Forgiveness of sin.
- An imperishable inheritance.
2. Eyes Opened.
a. To open their eyes… (Acts 26:18; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 1:8; Rev. 3:18; Mt. 13:15-16)
b. 2 Corinthians 4:4 AMPC — For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers’ minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.
c. Revelation 3:18 NKJV — I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
3. To Be Turned from Darkness to Light.
a. …that they may turn from darkness to light… (Acts 26:18; Lk. 1:79; Jn. 3:16-20; Col. 1:13)
b. That they may be turned from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness, from the slavery of Satan to the service of God.
c. Matthew 4:16 AMPC — The people who sat (dwelt enveloped) in darkness have seen a great Light, and for those who sat in the land and shadow of death Light has dawned.
d. Luke 1:79 AMPC — To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace.
4. Delivered from Satan’s Power.
a. …that they may turn…from the power of Satan to God… (Acts 26:18; Lk. 4:18; Col. 1:13; 1 Jn. 5:18)
b. Colossians 1:13 AMPC — [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.
c. Hebrews 2:14b-15 KJV — …that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
5. Forgiveness of Sin.
a. …so that they may thus receive forgiveness and release from their sins… (Acts 26:18; 2:38; 3:19; 13:38-39; Mt. 26:28; Eph. 1:7)
b. Matthew 26:28 KJV — For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
c. Romans 3:25 KJV — Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
d. Ephesians 1:7 KJV — In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
6. An Imperishable Inheritance.
a. …and a place and portion [inheritance] among those who are consecrated and purified by faith in Me (Acts 26:18; 20:32; Eph. 1:11-18; Col. 1:12-13; 1 Pet. 1:4).
b. Colossians 1:12 AMPC — Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.
c. 1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV — Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
d. The inheritance is for those who are sanctified by faith.
e. Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV — For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
7. Obeying the Vision.
a. Acts 26:19 AMPC — Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.
b. Paul had a heart to comply with the call to ministry—he surrendered to Jesus, submitted to Him, and was obedient to all that He commanded.
c. He ministered—particularly to the Gentiles—with divine aid, under divine direction, protection, and provision.
d. Acts 26:20a AMPC — But made known openly first of all to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the whole land of Judea, and also among the Gentiles…
e. Acts 1:8 NKJV — But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
f. Acts 26:20b AMPC — …that they should repent and turn to God, and do works and live lives consistent with and worthy of their repentance.
g. Preach repentance—turning from sin.
h. Luke 13:3 NKJV — I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
i. Preach conversion—turning to God.
j. Acts 3:19 NKJV — Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
k. Preach doing works and living lives that are consistent with commitment to Jesus.
l. Matthew 3:8 AMPC — Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart].