Acts 26:17 kjv
Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
Acts 26:17 nkjv
I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,
Acts 26:17 niv
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
Acts 26:17 esv
delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles ? to whom I am sending you
Acts 26:17 nlt
And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles
Acts 26 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Commission/Calling | ||
| Jer 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb... I appointed you a prophet to the nations." | God's sovereign calling before birth. |
| Isa 6:8 | "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" | Prophetic call; Paul's immediate commission. |
| John 20:21 | "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." | Jesus sends His apostles with authority. |
| Acts 9:15 | "He is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles." | Christ's specific call of Paul to Gentiles. |
| Acts 22:21 | "Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles." | Direct confirmation of the Gentile mission. |
| Rom 10:15 | "And how are they to preach unless they are sent?" | Emphasizes the necessity of divine sending. |
| Gal 1:15-16 | "He who had set me apart... was pleased to reveal his Son in me... to preach among the Gentiles." | Paul's call from God directly. |
| Gal 2:7-9 | "I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised." | Recognition of Paul's distinct Gentile apostleship. |
| Eph 3:8 | "To me... was given this grace, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." | Paul's unique commission as Gentile apostle. |
| Divine Protection/Deliverance | ||
| Ps 34:19 | "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." | God's faithfulness in delivering His own. |
| Ps 37:40 | "The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked." | God protects His people from enemies. |
| Jer 1:8 | "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord." | Promise of protection for a prophet. |
| Jer 1:19 | "They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you to deliver you." | Similar promise to Jeremiah concerning opposition. |
| Matt 10:17-18 | "They will deliver you over to courts... you will be dragged before governors and kings." | Foretold opposition Paul would face. |
| Matt 10:28 | "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul." | Ultimate security in God. |
| Acts 23:11 | "Take courage, for as you have testified... so you must testify also in Rome." | Lord's assurance amidst specific danger. |
| Acts 27:24 | "Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar." | Protection for divine purpose. |
| 2 Tim 4:17-18 | "The Lord stood by me and strengthened me... The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack." | Paul's personal experience of divine deliverance. |
| Opposition to the Mission | ||
| Acts 14:5 | "When an attempt was made... by both Gentiles and Jews... to mistreat and stone them." | Both groups often opposed Paul. |
| Acts 17:5 | "The Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked fellows... they incited a riot." | Jewish opposition in Thessalonica. |
| Acts 18:6 | "But when they opposed and reviled him... he went to the Gentiles." | Turning from Jewish opposition to Gentiles. |
| Acts 21:27 | "The Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up all the crowd." | Mob violence from the people. |
| Acts 22:22 | "Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, ‘Away with such a fellow!'" | Intense Jewish rejection. |
| Acts 28:28 | "Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles." | Conclusion of Acts highlights Gentile mission despite Jewish rejection. |
Acts 26 verses
Acts 26 17 Meaning
Acts 26:17 presents the resurrected Christ's promise of divine protection and specific commission to Paul during his Damascus road encounter. Christ assures Paul that He will continually deliver him from the hostility of both his Jewish countrymen and the non-Jewish Gentile nations, precisely because He is sending Paul as His chosen emissary to these groups. This verse underscores God's sovereign care over His chosen vessels and His specific plan for Paul's mission to the Gentile world.
Acts 26 17 Context
Acts chapter 26 records Paul's impassioned defense before King Agrippa II, his sister Bernice, and Governor Festus in Caesarea. Paul, unjustly imprisoned, recounts his personal testimony, emphasizing his strict adherence to Judaism before his conversion and the profound, transformative encounter with the resurrected Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. Verse 17 comes directly from Jesus's words to Paul during this encounter. It is part of the divine commission given to Paul, explaining both the anticipated resistance he would face from his own people and the Gentiles, and the explicit purpose for which he was being sent as an apostle: to bring the Gospel message to the non-Jewish world. This serves to validate Paul's entire ministry as divinely initiated and sustained.
Acts 26 17 Word analysis
- Delivering (ἐξαιρούμενός - exairoumenos): This is a present participle, indicating a continuous or ongoing action. The verb means to pluck out, to choose out for oneself, to rescue, or to deliver. It suggests an active and purposeful divine intervention.
- Significance: It signifies not just a past rescue from an immediate threat but an abiding promise of God's presence and intervention through future difficulties. God doesn't just save once, but continually acts to preserve His servant for His purpose.
- thee (σε - se): A direct, emphatic address from Christ to Paul, highlighting the personal nature of this divine assurance and commission.
- from the people (ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ - ek tou laou):
- Laos (λαός): Specifically refers to "the people" – in this context, the Jewish people. Paul, himself a zealous Jew, faced intense and often violent opposition from his countrymen who perceived him as betraying their traditions and challenging the Mosaic Law by preaching Christ to Gentiles without requiring conversion to Judaism.
- Significance: This acknowledges the deep-seated resistance Paul would encounter from those he most identified with. It points to the painful schism between early Jewish Christianity and normative Judaism.
- and from the Gentiles (καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν - kai ek tōn ethnōn):
- Ethnōn (ἐθνῶν): Refers to nations, ethnic groups, hence "the Gentiles" or pagan nations.
- Significance: Although Paul was commissioned to the Gentiles, his ministry among them also brought significant opposition—from idolatry-driven mobs, local authorities, and economic interests threatened by the Gospel. The promise of deliverance acknowledges danger from all sides.
- unto whom (πρὸς οὕς - pros hous): This phrase serves as a bridge, directly connecting the context of divine protection to the specific mission field Paul is being sent to. It underlines that the protection is given precisely for the fulfillment of this mission.
- now I send thee (νῦν ἀποστέλλω σε - nyn apostellō se):
- Nyn (νῦν): "Now," emphasizes the immediacy and present reality of the divine commissioning. It is not a future plan but an active appointment taking place at that moment.
- Apostellō (ἀποστέλλω): "To send out with a commission or authority," the root verb from which the term apostolos (apostle) derives.
- Significance: This phrase profoundly validates Paul's apostleship. His authority does not come from men, but directly from the resurrected Christ. He is Christ's appointed envoy to the non-Jewish world, laying the foundational divine authority for his unique ministry focus. This also serves as a polemic against those who might question or diminish his apostolic credentials.
Acts 26 17 Bonus section
- Sovereign Ordination of Sufferings: The promise of "delivering thee" does not imply the absence of suffering but preservation through it. Paul's life was full of hardship, imprisonment, and physical dangers, yet he survived these specific threats to complete his God-given mission, ultimately being delivered into God's purpose, not from all pain.
- Foundation for Gentile Ministry: This verse is a bedrock text for understanding the theological basis and unique authority of Paul's mission to the uncircumcised. It underscores the decisive shift in the early Church towards a truly global evangelistic focus, moving beyond its Jewish origins to embrace all nations.
- Apologetic Value: In his defense before Agrippa, Paul leverages this divine commission to explain the otherwise controversial (to Jewish listeners) nature of his Gentile ministry. His actions were not personal choices but direct obedience to Christ's explicit command. This elevates his testimony from mere personal experience to a divinely ordained mission.
Acts 26 17 Commentary
Acts 26:17 captures a pivotal moment in Paul's Damascus Road revelation: Christ's solemn promise of ongoing deliverance paired with a direct commissioning. Despite the profound hostility Paul would face from both his own Jewish people (who viewed him as a renegade) and the various pagan Gentiles (whose false beliefs and social structures were challenged by the Gospel), Christ assures him of His continuous protective hand. This divine pledge of security is directly tied to Paul's immediate appointment as an apostle, sent by Christ Himself, specifically to the Gentile nations. It highlights that God's commission is always accompanied by His provision and protection, ensuring His will is accomplished through His chosen instruments, even amidst extreme adversity. Paul's life was therefore a testament to the truth that his ministry, suffering, and preservation were all by divine will.