In Acts 26:18, Paul is telling his story of meeting the resurrected Jesus on the road to persecute Christians in Damascus. Jesus tells him from now on, all are sanctified (made holy/set apart) by faith in Jesus. Not by our behavior, although putting our faith in Jesus necessarily involves our behavior. Just like putting our faith in a chair takes shape as we lower ourselves to rest fully on the foundation a chair’s seat can provide. If I told you I had faith in a particular chair, but you never saw me sit in it – you may begin to wonder if what I was saying was true. In the same way, we are not made holy by our performance, or by a list of what we do or don’t do. But our faith becomes reality as we live out the Lordship of Jesus and His Ways over and above what we might desire or what our world proclaims to be a desirable or profitable way. As we abide in Jesus, we are “sanctified”. What does that mean?
Let’s look at where else this same word is used. One of the most familiar places is in the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9, as we begin “Our Father in heaven, Holy is Your name.” Holy is your reputation. God is set apart and “otherly”. God is pure. The word is also used in the Old Testament, to put limits around Mount Sinai because it’s Holy (Ex. 19:23) or to “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy.” (Ex. 20:8). It’s also used in Ezekiel 37:28, as God speaks through His prophet to say, “Then the nations shall know that I the Lord sanctify Israel (“my people”), when my sanctuary (“dwelling place”) is among them forever.” Here we see why so many Jews might be upset with Paul to the point of wanting him silenced.
Paul declares that He has been obedient to the vision ever since. Not just a vision, but a “heavenly vision”. This is not something he dreamed on his own, or something he decided, but the words of Jesus directly, who spoke in Hebrew and is Lord. He declared those same words in Damascus, and then throughout Jerusalem, and Judea, and out into the Gentile world. Remember the words of Jesus Luke gave us at the beginning of Acts 1:8? “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Paul went out with this message from Jesus into the Gentile world, sharing the gospel – the “good news” that ALL could now repent, all could now turn from darkness to light, be brought into the authority of God, receive forgiveness from their sins, and be made Holy by faith in Jesus.
He not only encouraged them to repent intellectually, acknowledging the truth internally. He encouraged them to live in ways that were consistent with repentance. If we come to Jesus and claim all the freedoms and power in His name, but then live according to the same ways and patterns and oppressive forces that bound us previously – this is not a life that has turned fully toward the authority and presence of Jesus by His Spirit here and now.
But, Paul says, it was this bold message among the gentiles that caused the Jews to seize him and try to kill him. God has protected him up until this point, so that he can share his testimony with all who would listen in those moments – both those with lots of power, and even those who had no power. There were probably servants, and maybe even other prisoners in the room waiting for their chance to defend themselves. This “good news” was meant to be heard, and was powerfully available as the Truth for everyone – no matter who they were.
He highlights the impact of his message one more time – the reason he is being accused, is the same reason he defends himself. This is not something outside of Judaism, or a new faith he’s inventing. This was spoken of by the prophets and Moses long ago. The Messiah, Christ, must suffer, and being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the gentiles. This section of Acts 26 continues to speak of moving from darkness to light.
In the resurrection of Jesus, the light of New Creation shines on both Jews and Gentiles. As Peter declared in Acts 15:9, “in cleansing their (the Gentiles) hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us.”
Paul has been saying, the same holiness – the same “set apart”-ness that was only reserved for the Jewish people previously, was now branching out to graft in any gentile who came to God by faith in Jesus. In fact, he was saying, with Jesus being the fulfillment of the Law – this was the only way the Jewish people now came to God – through Jesus. Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
It was only through Jesus that anyone would now join the promise God made to Abraham long ago. We find the words in Genesis 12:2-3. Even today, they’re often read as if they apply only to the Jewish people, or to a modern nation state of Israel. But Paul declares that it’s only through Jesus that both Jews and Gentiles join the promise found in these words:
“I will make of you a great (people),and I will bless you and make your (reputation) great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who (speaks against) you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3) To believe the resurrected Jesus is the fulfillment of ancient Judaism for God’s Kingdom launching out into all humanity and creation is not a rejection of Jewish faith, but the beautiful way God always intended His story to redemptively grow, from His people Israel out into a renewed humanity.
We don’t see Paul telling those who listen “You will be cursed if you speak against me!” The word “curse” today has a very particular connotation. But this is the same word used in Genesis 3:17, “cursed is the ground because of you”. Adam didn’t pronounce a curse on the ground, but because he no longer lived in perfect relationship with God anymore, the natural order of creation had been damaged, broken, in need of repair/healing. The ground could even still be fruitful, but it would be incredibly difficult work, God tells them.
The promise from Genesis 12:2-3 doesn’t become something for Paul, or the Jewish people, or we as Christians today to use against our enemies – “You’ll be cursed if you speak against us (or “God’s people”)!” But when someone purposefully denies or turns away from the healing presence of Jesus, denies relationship with God and His body (the Church), they will continue living wounded, wounding, and in need of repair/healing. Our triumph over evil in Christ moves us with the compassion of Jesus toward those still living in the curse of bondage.
Such grace was scandalous to Jews who held tightly to their identity as “God’s chosen”, their control over the law and faith. But such grace enabled Paul to see, and offer sight to the blind. Will we live and walk in the light as those whose eyes are opened by Jesus? This is how we testify our faith in the reality of our resurrected Jesus.
words from wick 