Acts 26:16
But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
The exciting Book of Acts is where we find our verse for this week. This book is all about the early church. It documents the work of the Holy Spirit through His empowering of those who believe in Jesus. The ascension of Jesus into heaven. The missionary journeys to spread the Gospel through out the world. We find the beginning of the Church and read about its rapid growth. The great and many miracles and healing that took place. The Apostles being thrown in jail and put on trial due to their preaching of the Gospel. The church sharing in all things so that no one was in need. We find testimony of the believers who died for their faith. The great prosecution of the Church especially by one very zealous Saul. The great conversion of Saul the Pharisee to Paul the believer on the road to Damascus. This is the part of Acts we will be focusing on today.
Paul never got tired of sharing his testimony. Nor did he grow tired of the trials he endured for the sake of spreading the Gospel. What took place before our verse was Paul was almost beaten to death at the Temple Mount of Jerusalem. However, due to a kings curiosity, a governor's dilemma , the prisoners defense, the rulers response, and more importantly God's sovereignty. Paul got to tell his testimony to King Agrippa!
The part of this verse that really hits home to me is... "Rise and stand on your feet for I have appeared to you for this purpose." See Paul had to be cast down by Jesus, that Jesus could raise him up. For the sole purpose to be at tool used to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. The Lord literally had to break Saul in order to rebirth Paul. We do not see Jesus giving Saul a seat on the lap of luxury in return for Saul's conversion. Nor do we read in this verse that Jesus begged for Saul to have mercy on the believers that were to be prosecuted by the very hands of Saul. What we do read here is that God brought this man to a position of submission then told him to rise up and go and spread the gospel. Could it be God is having us die to our old selves when He has us in a position of submission, or allowing us to feel broken... Are we listening good enough to hear The Lords voice telling us to stand on our feet in those times? Is it time to do the work that we where called to do?
The second part of this verse, "to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you", is the work we were called to do. Paul did not walk with Jesus. Paul didn't sit under the teaching of Jesus. However, Paul testified to many of his own personal encounter of Jesus. Paul taught as The Lord revealed His truths! Paul did not stay on that dusty road to Damascus. Paul responded in obedience when Jesus told him to stand on his feet.