使徒言行録26:12-18 Acts 26:12-18,

After continuing his journey, Paul finally arrived in the city of Jerusalem. He then went to the church in Jerusalem to meet the leaders and reported that people from different provinces had come to believe in Jesus. However, while in the temple in Jerusalem, Paul was almost killed by Jews who did not believe in Jesus. So, a tribune of the Roman army guarding the city of Jerusalem grabbed Paul and protected him. He sent him to the governor, Felix, in a town called Caesarea. Felix seized Paul and kept him in captivity for about two years. Eventually, the governor was replaced and Festus became the next governor. Festus decided to invite the king Agrippa and his queen Bernice to hear Paul’s testimony. The king Agrippa had the right to appoint the high priest, as he had control over the treasures of the Jerusalem temple.

Governors and kings are people with power on earth. However, rather than being afraid of those with power on earth, Paul testified about Jesus in a powerful way so that they would believe in him. For this reason, Paul began by stating that he had been a member of the Jewish orthodoxy since his youth, a Jew among Jews, so to speak. He then told that he had persecuted those who believed in Jesus and was in favour of putting those who believed in Jesus to death. Today’s Bible passages are where Paul testifies how such a man came to believe in Jesus and proclaim him.

Paul, who was travelling from Jerusalem to Damascus to persecute the Christians in Damascus, saw a shining light from heaven and fell to the ground. A voice from heaven said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” It was the voice of Jesus speaking from heaven. And Jesus said, “I will deliver you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (vv. 17-18)

People who do not know the true God have a darkened heart, even if they are not conscious of it. This is because living according to one’s empty desires leads to a dark path of destruction. Paul was sent to preach the cross and resurrection of Jesus to those who were on such a perishing path, so that they might “turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.” So why can believing in Jesus be turning “from darkness to light” and “from the power of Satan to God”? Because by believing in Jesus, we can receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

We too believe in Jesus. Then we receive Jesus’ grace through Sunday worship and are sent to the people of this world. We then live among the people of this world from Monday to Saturday. The reason for this is that we testify about Jesus to the people of the world and show them the way to forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Even though we witness about Jesus, the people of this world will not easily believe in him. But think about it. Even the apostle Paul did not believe in Jesus at first and persecuted those who believed in him. But Jesus changed him. Let us also trust in the power of Jesus and testify about him persistently.