From darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God
Acts 26:15-18
15 ‘Then I asked, “Who are you, Lord?”
‘ “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the Lord replied. 16 “Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Paul was persecuting Christians (Acts 26:9-11). On a journey, Paul saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around him and his companions (Acts 26:12). They all fell to the ground and Paul heard a voice saying “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 26:14)
When Paul asked “Who are you, Lord” (15a), Jesus answered him. See v15b ~ 18.
‘ “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the Lord replied. 16 “Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Let us pay attention to the last part of the above paragraph, which is v17b ~ 18.
I am sending you to them
- to open their eyes
- to turn them
- from darkness to light
- from the power of Satan to God
So that they may receive
- forgiveness of sins
- a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me
Here, let us note “from the power of Satan to God”. Before saved by Jesus, people in the world are under the power of Satan.
Similar verses are in 2 Timothy 2:25-16.
25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Before saved by Jesus, people in the world are in the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
They need ‘rescue’.
This reality is also written in 1 John 5:19.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition, Ac 26:15–18). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
