Acts 26:12 kjv
Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
Acts 26:12 nkjv
"While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
Acts 26:12 niv
"On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
Acts 26:12 esv
"In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
Acts 26:12 nlt
"One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests.
Acts 26 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 9:1-2 | But Saul, still breathing threats... obtained letters from the chief priests to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any... he might bring them bound... | Paul's specific mission to persecute in Damascus. |
| Acts 22:4-5 | I persecuted this Way to the death... and received letters from them to the brothers... on my way to Damascus to bring those also... to Jerusalem for punishment. | Another account by Paul detailing his prior actions. |
| Php 3:6 | as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. | Paul's former zeal in persecuting the church. |
| 1 Tim 1:13 | though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy... | Paul's self-identification as a former persecutor. |
| Gal 1:13-14 | For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently... | Paul's extreme efforts against believers. |
| Jn 16:2 | They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. | Persecutors believing they serve God. |
| Acts 7:58 | Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. | Saul's presence at Stephen's martyrdom. |
| Acts 8:3 | But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. | Saul's intense persecution in Jerusalem. |
| Lk 22:66 | When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together... | Role of chief priests and Sanhedrin. |
| Mt 26:3 | Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas... | Chief priests initiating action against Jesus. |
| Jn 11:47-48 | So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, “What are we to do?... if we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him..." | Their motivations to suppress Jesus/the Way. |
| Acts 5:17-18 | But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him... and arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. | Chief priests as key persecutors of apostles. |
| Acts 4:1-3 | And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them... and arrested them... | Religious leaders arresting disciples. |
| Mt 28:18-20 | All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... | Jesus' true ultimate authority and commission. |
| Jn 19:10-11 | Pilate said to him, “Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above." | Human authority is limited by divine authority. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God... | All authority originates from God. |
| Prov 16:9 | The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. | Divine sovereignty over human plans. |
| Jer 1:5 | “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” | God's sovereign calling predates human actions. |
| Gen 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good... | God using evil intentions for His redemptive plan. |
| Eph 3:7-8 | Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace... Though I am the very least of all the saints... | Paul's post-conversion understanding of his ministry. |
| Acts 23:11 | The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” | God's continuing commission to Paul. |
| Acts 9:15 | But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” | God's divine calling for Paul. |
Acts 26 verses
Acts 26 12 Meaning
This verse is part of Paul's testimony before King Agrippa II and other officials, where he recounts the events leading to his dramatic conversion. It describes his journey to Damascus with official authorization from the Jewish religious authorities to apprehend and persecute followers of Christ. This highlights the zealous nature of his pre-conversion actions and the institutional backing for his efforts to suppress the nascent Christian movement.
Acts 26 12 Context
Acts chapter 26 is part of Paul's extended defense, delivered before King Agrippa II, Bernice, and Governor Festus in Caesarea. Paul, imprisoned for his ministry, seizes this opportunity not merely to defend himself against accusations by the Jews but to proclaim the Gospel and explain the transformative power of his encounter with the risen Christ. This verse marks the beginning of his personal testimony, detailing his zealous persecution of Christians before his radical conversion. Historically, Damascus was a major Hellenistic city with a significant Jewish population, allowing the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem to extend its jurisdiction through letters and representatives for Jewish affairs, including the suppression of perceived heresies like early Christianity ("the Way"). This specific mission highlights the organized and formal nature of the Jewish opposition to the early church.
Acts 26 12 Word analysis
- At which / In this connection: The Greek phrase is "En ho" (ἐν ᾧ), meaning "in which" or "in connection with which." This phrase serves as a transitional element, connecting Paul’s description of his general, intense persecution activities in the preceding verses (Acts 26:9-11) to the specific, pivotal event of his journey to Damascus. It implies that the Damascus journey was a direct continuation and a climactic expression of his former zeal to stamp out the "Name of Jesus of Nazareth."
- as I went / I journeyed: The Greek verb is "poreuomai" (πορεύομαι), signifying purposeful and directed travel, often indicating a specific mission or journey rather than just casual movement. It underscores the intentionality and determined nature of Paul's pre-conversion mission to Damascus.
- to Damascus: The ancient city of Dāmā́skos (Δαμασκός) was a prominent center of trade and a significant Jewish diaspora community, making it a natural target for the Jewish religious authorities seeking to eradicate the burgeoning Christian movement that had spread beyond Judea. Paul's destination reveals the reach of the Jewish leadership's authority and his own fervent dedication to their cause.
- with authority: The Greek term used is "meta exousias" (μετὰ ἐξουσίας). "Exousia" (ἐξουσία) denotes delegated power, a legal right, or legitimate permission. It indicates that Paul's actions were not merely personal vendetta but were carried out under a formal, recognized mandate, lending a strong sense of legality and official sanction to his mission of persecution.
- and commission: The Greek word is "kai epitropes" (καὶ ἐπιτροπῆς). "Epitrope" (ἐπιτροπή) refers more specifically to a formal authorization, a written warrant, or a direct, appointed charge, often implying guardianship or stewardship. While "exousia" speaks to the power itself, "epitrope" suggests the official documentation or precise directive by which that power was to be executed, confirming the methodical and legally endorsed nature of his anti-Christian efforts. This could refer to the "letters" mentioned in Acts 9:2 and Acts 22:5.
- from the chief priests: The Greek is "para tōn archiereōn" (παρὰ τῶν ἀρχιερέων). The "chief priests" were the powerful priestly aristocratic families who formed the core of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish legislative and judicial body. They were the primary antagonists of Jesus and later His followers. Their granting of authority and commission emphasizes that Paul's actions were fully endorsed by the highest religious authorities in Judaism, making his subsequent conversion an even more profound subversion of human religious power by divine grace.
- "I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission": This phrase vividly portrays Paul as an official agent of the Sanhedrin. He wasn't acting as a rogue individual but as a sanctioned persecutor, wielding official power against followers of "the Way." This detail enhances the dramatic contrast with his immediate post-conversion state, where he becomes a prisoner and recipient of divine commission.
- "authority and commission from the chief priests": This combination of terms ("exousia" and "epitrope") highlights the formidable and institutionalized opposition faced by the early church. It indicates that the Jewish religious establishment viewed early Christianity not just as a differing theological opinion but as a dangerous movement requiring systematic suppression, using official channels and agents like Saul. This detail is crucial for understanding the depth of Paul's previous commitment to Jewish traditionalism and his radical turnaround.
Acts 26 12 Bonus section
Paul’s reliance on "authority and commission from the chief priests" before his conversion provides a stark contrast to his later understanding of his apostolic calling. He repeatedly emphasized that his apostleship came "not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father" (Gal 1:1), directly challenging the idea of any human authority sanctioning his true mission. This verse illustrates the pinnacle of human opposition to God's will, which God sovereignly overruled, using it as the very catalyst for the expansion of the Gospel through Paul.
Acts 26 12 Commentary
Acts 26:12 serves as the prelude to the most pivotal event in Paul's life – his encounter with the risen Christ. It underscores the profound paradox of his journey: armed with human authority and sanctioned power to extinguish the Christian movement, he was about to be intercepted by a divine authority that would radically transform his purpose. His mission, endorsed by the highest religious officials, highlights the full measure of his zeal against Christ, demonstrating that his conversion was not from a lukewarm belief but from an fervent, established opposition. This sets the stage for God's overwhelming grace in converting such an ardent enemy into His most fervent apostle.