ACC ~ Acts 26 v9 - 18

OVERVIEW:

This third telling of Paul’s actions “opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth” and his meeting with Jesus goes into more detail in regard to the nature of the persecution. Again Jesus’ first words, Paul’s question and Jesus’ response are given in almost the exact words as the other two accounts with the addition of a popular Greek proverb applied to the fruitlessness of resisting Jesus and his action in Paul’s life. Jesus’ commission, reported in his own words, is retold by Paul in the mode of a prophet. Here [Paul] is described as “servant and witness” of what he has seen and will see, thus fulfilling the words of Isaiah 42:7 (LXX) and opening the eyes of the people and the Gentiles so that they may turn from darkness to light (Is 42:16). Those who so turn are described as gaining “a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

The treatment of Chrysostom here is cursory. He runs through the sequence of events and adds brief asides that one wishes he had expanded upon. For example, Chrysostom remarks that the appearance of the persecuted one himself to Paul is in itself an expression of God’s mercy. Ephrem allows us to open up a different reception of this event in his attempt to grasp what Paul’s experience might have entailed. In the final comment on this passage, we find Chrysostom, again being quite brief, examining Paul’s narrative of the events and how they are designed, for the purpose of persuasion, to lay out God’s plan and avoid any assignation of guilt to his audience.

26:9 | Convinced That I Ought to Do Many Things

PAUL’S CREDIBILITY. CHRYSOSTOM: He shows how he persecuted and how he was made fit for this, for which he calls the high priests to testify and “the cities outside” Jerusalem. [Paul] tells of how he heard the voice of someone saying to him, “It hurts to kick against the goad.” Then he shows God’s clemency, because it was the persecuted one who appeared to him. “He not only benefited me but sent me as a teacher for others.” And he shows the prophecy, which came and said to him, “I will choose you from among your people and the Gentiles.” “I thought to myself,” that is, “I made the decision ‘to work steadfastly against’ the name of Jesus of Nazareth. I was not one of the disciples of Christ; I was with those who fought him.” Thus he is a witness worthy of belief, because after doing countless things, fighting and killing the faithful, persuading them to blaspheme and bringing so many people, cities and rulers along, and after undertaking all this on his own initiative, he was so suddenly changed. And there are again witnesses present for this. Then [Paul] shows he had been rightly persuaded and not deceived by the light, by the prophets, by the facts, by the events that were unfolding at that very moment. In order that he may not appear to be an innovator, even though he could speak of such great things, he takes refuge once more in the prophets, and he puts them forth for public scrutiny. This is more trustworthy, as it happens in the present; but since he alone had seen, again he is confirmed by the prophets. CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 26.9-11.

26:13 | A Light from Heaven

THE UNCREATED LIGHT. EPHREM THE SYRIAN: Now if the sun here below, of the same nature as our eyes here below, can do harm to them with its intensity, not with its anger, and with its brilliance, not with its rage, how much more can a light from above, of the same nature as the things from above, do harm with its intensity to one who is below, who is not of its nature and who looks at it suddenly? Now if this sun to which Paul was accustomed could cause injury from its intensity when he looked at it in an uncustomary way, how much more harmful would the brilliance of that light be for one whose eyes had never been accustomed to it. HOMILY ON OUR LORD 27.2-3.

26:18 | Turn from Darkness to Light

TO MAKE APOSTLES OF THE GENTILES. CHRYSOSTOM: And notice how [Paul] does not speak in court as he did in the assembly. There he said, “You killed him.” Here, nothing of the kind, so that he might not kindle their anger more. Nevertheless, he shows the same thing by saying “if the Christ must suffer.” Thus he frees them from accusations. For “even the prophets,” he says, said this. Therefore, accept the rest as well. Since he mentioned the vision, without fear he goes on to speak of its successes as well. “That they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.” “For I have appeared to you for this purpose,” not to punish you but to make you an apostle. Then he points out the evils encompassing the unbelievers, Satan, darkness, and the good surrounding the believers, light, God, the inheritance of the saints. He exhorts them not only to repent but also to exhibit a life worthy of admiration. And look, everywhere the Gentiles embraced the Word. For those present were Gentiles. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 52.