Encounter and Mission on the Damascus Road (Acts 26:13-18)

Scripture: Acts 26:13-18

Today’s Word

“About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'” (Acts 26:13-18, NIV)

Background

Key Terms Made Simple

• Persecute: To harass, oppress, or harm a person or group because of their beliefs
• Goads: Sharp sticks used in ancient Greece to drive oxen. If the ox kicked back, it would hurt itself more. A metaphor showing that resisting God’s will only harms oneself
• Gentiles: People who are not Jewish; non-Jews
• Witness: To tell others about what you have personally seen and experienced
• Sanctified: Made holy; cleansed from sin and set apart for God

Key Expressions to Notice

1. “A light from heaven, brighter than the sun”
2. “It is hard for you to kick against the goads”
3. “What you have seen and will see of me”
4. “From darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God”

Main Points of the Text

1. The Powerful Presence of Jesus (vv. 13-14): Paul and his companions saw a light brighter than the sun at noon, and they all fell to the ground. This shows that humans cannot stand before God’s glory.
2. Personal Calling (vv. 15-16): Jesus calls Paul by name and commands him, “Get up and stand on your feet!” God appoints Paul as His servant and makes him a witness.
3. Specific Mission (vv. 17-18): Paul is sent to the Gentiles. His mission is to open people’s eyes and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God.
4. Purpose of Salvation: The ultimate goal is for people to receive forgiveness of sins and join the community of God’s holy people who believe in Him.

Applying to My Life

1. Listening to God’s Voice: Paul heard God’s voice. We also need to listen to God through reading the Bible and prayer. Sometimes what we think is right might actually be contrary to God’s will.
2. Learning from the Past: Paul honestly acknowledges that he persecuted Jesus in the past. We too can admit our past mistakes and grow through them.
3. Finding My Mission: Just as Paul was given a specific mission, each of us has a role that God has entrusted to us. Who can I lead from darkness to light?

Think About It

1. Like Paul “kicking against the goads,” am I making things harder for myself by resisting God’s will?
2. Paul became a completely different person after meeting Jesus. What experiences of transformation have I had after encountering Jesus? Or what changes do I want to experience?
3. The mission of leading people “from darkness to light” isn’t only about grand gestures. Which friend or family member around me can I share Jesus’ love with?