but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
Paul was stopped dead in his tracks by a power from heaven that no earthly authority could match, even one armed with the full weight of the chief priests behind it. A vision and a voice together seized him, not by force of men, but by divine energy, and turned the persecutor into a preacher. What resistance can stand against God?
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 26:12-23
Paul preached first to the Jews at Damascus and Jerusalem, then throughout Judea, observing the order of his calling, though he spent time in Arabia before returning to Jerusalem. He called all, Jews and Gentiles alike, to repent of their sins: the Jews of their will-worship, their rejection of the Messiah, their persecution of the apostles, and their trust in their own righteousness; the Gentiles of their immoralities, superstition, and idolatry. True repentance means detesting these sins, feeling shame for them, and turning inward to reform the lusts of the heart, not merely outward actions.
AI summary
Verse 20. See . The 20th verse contains a summary of his labours in obedience to the command of the Lord Jesus. His argument is, that the Lord Jesus had from heaven commanded him to do this, and that he had done no more than to obey his injunction. (*) "shewed" "declared" (i) "first" (k) "works" (+) "meet for" "worthy of"