Acts 26:18 kjv
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Acts 26:18 nkjv
to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
Acts 26:18 niv
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.'
Acts 26:18 esv
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
Acts 26:18 nlt
to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in me.'
Acts 26 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 13:47 | "For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’" | Fulfillment of prophecy; missionary mandate |
| Isaiah 42:6 | "I am the Lord; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations," | Old Testament prophecy |
| Isaiah 49:6 | "I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." | Old Testament prophecy |
| Luke 1:79 | "to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." | Parallel concept of light |
| John 1:9 | "The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." | Christ as the true light |
| John 3:19 | "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." | Contrast between light and darkness |
| John 8:12 | "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’" | Christ as the Light of the World |
| John 12:36 | "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” | Call to believe in the light |
| Acts 20:32 | "And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance that is sanctified by faith in him." | Inheritance sanctified by faith |
| 1 Corinthians 6:11 | "And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." | Sanctification and justification |
| Colossians 1:13 | "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son," | Transfer from darkness to kingdom |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:5 | "for you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness." | Identity as children of light |
| 1 Peter 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." | Called out of darkness into light |
| Ephesians 2:1-2 | "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience." | Power of darkness/Satan |
| 1 John 1:7 | "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." | Walking in light and cleansing |
| Romans 11:13 | "Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry," | Paul's ministry to Gentiles |
| Ephesians 3:8 | "To me, though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ," | Grace to preach to Gentiles |
| Romans 1:5 | "through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations," | Obedience of faith among nations |
| Hebrews 9:14 | "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" | Purifying power of Christ's blood |
| 1 Corinthians 1:30 | "He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption." | Christ our righteousness and sanctification |
Acts 26 verses
Acts 26 18 Meaning
This verse encapsulates the purpose of Paul's ministry to the Gentiles: to open their eyes, turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, resulting in the forgiveness of their sins and a place among those sanctified by faith in Christ.
Acts 26 18 Context
This verse is part of Paul's defense before King Agrippa. He recounts his conversion and the commission he received from Jesus. Paul's ministry, as he states here, was specifically to open the eyes of the Gentiles and turn them from the darkness of their former lives towards God. This was a crucial aspect of his apostleship, which sometimes led to tension with Jewish authorities who believed salvation was exclusive to Israel. Agrippa, though Jewish, was in a position of Roman authority over Israel, making this address significant. The core message is one of transformative salvation provided through Christ.
Acts 26 18 Word Analysis
- "to open": (Gr. anoigo) - To open, unclose, unlock. It implies revealing understanding, bringing to light, or making something accessible.
- "their eyes": Refers to spiritual understanding, enabling them to see the truth of the Gospel.
- "and": (Gr. kai) - A conjunctive particle, connecting phrases or clauses.
- "turn": (Gr. epistrepho) - To turn, convert, return. It signifies a fundamental change of direction in life, from one state to another.
- "them": The Gentiles, Paul's specific audience in this commission.
- "from darkness": (Gr. skotos) - Darkness, gloom, obscurity. Symbolically represents ignorance, sin, and separation from God.
- "to light": (Gr. phos) - Light. Symbolically represents truth, knowledge, holiness, and God's presence.
- "and": (Gr. kai) - Connecting phrase.
- "from the dominion": (Gr. exousia) - Authority, power, mastery. It speaks of Satan's controlling influence.
- "of Satan": Refers to the malevolent spiritual force opposing God and humanity.
- "to God": The ultimate destination and source of true authority and life.
- "by faith": (Gr. pistei) - Through trusting reliance. Faith in Christ is the means of this transition.
- "in me": Refers to Paul's ministry, or more broadly, in Christ whom Paul represents. This phrase can also be understood as "through faith that is in Me (Christ)". The latter interpretation aligns with other Pauline texts emphasizing faith in Christ.
- "the forgiveness": (Gr. aphesis) - Forgiveness, remission, cancellation of debt. The pardon of sins.
- "of their sins": The transgressions against God's law.
- "and": (Gr. kai) - Connecting phrase.
- "an inheritance": (Gr. klēros) - A lot, an inheritance. It refers to the blessings and eternal life received by believers.
- "among those": Refers to a company or group.
- "who are sanctified": (Gr. hagiazo) - To be made holy, consecrated, set apart. This sanctification is a present reality for believers, rooted in God's grace.
- "by faith": (Gr. pistei) - Again, emphasizing faith as the continuous principle.
- "in me": Again, can refer to Paul or, more likely, to Christ. The most consistent reading across Pauline theology is "in Me (Christ)".
Words-group by words-group analysis:The phrase "open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light" uses strong dualistic imagery, prevalent in the New Testament, reflecting a complete spiritual transformation. "From the dominion of Satan to God" clearly delineates the shift in allegiance and spiritual authority. "By faith in me" links the effectiveness of this transformation to Paul's ministry (or Christ's at the core) and underscores faith as the exclusive conduit for receiving God's salvation. The result is "forgiveness of their sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me" — highlighting the dual blessings of pardon and eternal life received through consistent faith in Christ.
Acts 26 18 Bonus Section
The emphasis on "in me" is critical. While Paul was the emissary, the true power and efficacy flowed from Christ. This wording is consistent with Paul's broader theology where the believer’s standing is found in Christ (e.g., Ephesians 1:3). The idea of an "inheritance" is deeply rooted in Old Testament concepts of the Promised Land, now spiritually realized as eternal life in God's presence, secured through Christ's covenant. The "sanctification" mentioned is both positional (set apart by God at conversion) and progressive (growing in holiness through the Spirit). This verse echoes the very purpose of Jesus' mission as seen in passages like John 3:16-17 and 1 John 3:8.
Acts 26 18 Commentary
Paul's declaration here summarizes the redemptive work Christ commissions him to perform. It’s a message of enlightenment, liberation from spiritual bondage under Satan, and reconciliation with God. This transformation is not achieved by human effort but through divine grace apprehended by faith in Christ, evidenced through Paul’s apostleship. The ultimate outcomes are the removal of sin’s guilt and the reception of a glorious, holy destiny secured by God’s provision. This represents the essence of the Gospel offered to all, particularly the Gentiles.