Manly Luscombe Commentary on NT

Acts 26:19-20

Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

1. Convinced of the vision he saw, the words spoken by Jesus, he obeyed.

2. Immediately after his conversion Paul was in Damascus preaching the very message he had come there to extinguish. He was preaching the Jesus which he came there to persecute.

3. Here is one of those succinct passages which contain in summary the plan of salvation.

1. For ALL - Jerusalem, Judea and Gentiles are all subject to the same commands of God.

2. Repent - They should repent. This word involves a change of mind which results in a change of life.

3. Turn to God - Repentance suggests a turning away from sin and the way of the world. But in turning away from sin, we also need to turn TO something.

4. Works befitting repentance - Repentance demands a new way of living, acting, behaving. John told some to "bear fruits worthy of repentance." (Matthew 3:8) If we claim to repent, but our actions don't demonstrate that change, it is not genuine repentance.

5. NOTE: This passage is not trying to say that we can "work" our way to heaven. Paul is not saying that we are saved by "works."

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Manly Luscombe Commentary on NT

Acts 26:19-20

Old Testament

New Testament