“‘. . . ¹⁸to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’”

As Paul continues his testimony before Agrippa (with a room full of listeners, including Agrippa’s wife Bernice, Governor Festus, and the Jewish leaders), he states the purpose for his appointment as Jesus’ minister. As present-day believers, we might wish Paul were testifying that Jesus was God, as he does elsewhere (see Col. 1:19, 2:9, etc.). But the framework of this theological debate had more to do with Jesus as Messiah. In his previous discussion with Felix (whose wife was Jewish), Paul referred to “Christ Jesus” (Acts 24:24), and shortly he will apply to Jesus a prophecy concerning “the Christ” (26:23). To Jewish ears, the Messianic implication is unavoidable.

Of course, Jesus’ messiahship does have enormous ramifications concerning His deity, which Paul clearly understands. But Paul gears his testimony to his Jewish-minded audience. Paul has been commissioned by none other than the Messiah, who was sent by God to rescue His people. How ironic that Paul was promised that the Messiah would rescue him from God’s people!

This commissioning was for a purpose: to rescue people from darkness and Satan’s dominion and provide forgiveness of sins. A heart open to God would welcome this as good news, but to a hardened Jewish heart, the implication that the Jews were living in darkness would grate deeply. Yet God did not want them to remain in darkness, and Paul does not shrink back at the offense this implication would bring. Forgiveness of sins was at stake here. The rescue was “from the dominion of Satan.” Jesus was even harsher in his conversation with the unbelieving Jews:

They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin . . . So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you . . . You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father . . .” (John 8:33–34, 36–37, 44)

Paul, like Jesus, wanted not to condemn the Jews but to set them free, so they could know real forgiveness and a true inheritance through the Messiah. Then they would be truly sanctified—set apart for God—through faith, not keeping of the Law.

Lord, thank You for rescuing me and forgiving me for my sin.