DAILY STUDY ON ACTS
MESSAGE SIXTY-NINE
THE PROPAGATION IN ASIA MINOR AND EUROPE
THROUGH PAUL'S MINISTRY AND HIS COMPANIONS (35)
WEEK 31 – FRIDAY
Bible Reading: Acts 26:1-32
Read and pray: "But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you, delivering you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you" (Acts 26:16).
In this message, we will continue to consider Paul's defense before Agrippa (26:1-29). Then, we will examine Agrippa's judgment regarding Paul's case (26:30-32). In his defense before Agrippa, Paul testified of the Lord's appearance to him and His words: *"But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you, delivering you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you" (vv. 16-17 — IBB-Rev.).*
We have seen that Paul was appointed not only as a minister but also as a witness. In verse 17, the Lord assured Paul that He would deliver him from the Jewish people and the Gentiles.
THE CONTENT OF PAUL'S COMMISSION
Opening People's Eyes
In verse 18, we find the content of Paul's commission: *"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."*
Opening people's eyes is a fulfillment of God's jubilee—the acceptable year of the Lord proclaimed by Jesus in Luke 4:18-21, according to God's New Testament economy. The acceptable year of the Lord in Luke 4:19 is the New Testament era, typified by the year of jubilee (Lev. 25:8-17), a time when God accepts captives of sin who return (Isa. 49:8; 2 Cor. 6:2) and where those oppressed under the bondage of sin can enjoy the deliverance of God's salvation.
The first aspect of the spiritual and divine blessings of the New Testament jubilee—the blessings of God's gospel—is to open the eyes of the fallen and turn them from darkness to light so they may see divine matters in the spiritual realm. Seeing these things requires spiritual vision and divine light.
Many of us have experienced hearing certain messages that led us into darkness and others that brought us into light. Imagine listening to a sermon from a particular minister, pastor, or preacher. The more you listen, the more you are led into darkness, and everything becomes murky. However, you might hear another message, and as you listen, divine light shines brighter in you, the day dawns, your eyes are opened, and you begin to see spiritual matters. This is the kind of message that opens people's eyes.
Turning People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to God
Acts 26:18 speaks not only of opening people's eyes but also of turning them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. This turning refers to a transfer. Turning from darkness to light is being transferred from darkness to light, and turning from the power of Satan to God is being transferred from Satan's power to God. This is a great transfer!
Darkness signifies sin and death; light signifies righteousness and life (John 1:4; 8:12). The power or authority of Satan is his kingdom (Matt. 12:26), which belongs to darkness. Satan is the ruler of this world (John 12:31) and the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2). He has authority and angels (Matt. 25:41), who are his subordinates as principalities, powers, and rulers of this dark world (Eph. 6:12). Thus, he has his kingdom—the dominion of darkness (Col. 1:13).
According to Acts 26:18, we are transferred from Satan's power to God. In reality, being transferred to God means being transferred to His authority, which is His kingdom belonging to light. Previously, we were in darkness and under Satan's power. But we have been delivered from darkness and Satan's power and brought into light and God.
Darkness, in essence, is Satan's authority. Whenever we are in darkness, we are under satanic authority. Light is God Himself (1 John 1:5). Therefore, when we are in light, we are in God. Just as Satan and darkness are one, God and light are also one. The greatest transfer we can experience is from darkness to light.
In Acts 21, James was promoting the old practices of Judaism. In doing so, he was in darkness. He told Paul, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law" (21:20).
This was spoken in darkness and indicates that James himself was blind and in darkness. Being in darkness, he was also under Satan's authority. To say this about James is not overly harsh.
Paul was certainly not blind. However, in Acts 21, he risked being dragged back into darkness. Indeed, during the days he spent in the temple with others to fulfill the Nazirite vow, he was in darkness.
Enjoy more: Hymn 9
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