Acts 26 20

Acts 26:20 kjv

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Acts 26:20 nkjv

but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

Acts 26:20 niv

First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.

Acts 26:20 esv

but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

Acts 26:20 nlt

I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God ? and prove they have changed by the good things they do.

Acts 26 verses

Acts 26 20 Meaning

Acts 26:20 encapsulates Paul's consistent gospel message and the geographical scope of his ministry after his conversion experience. Speaking before King Agrippa, Paul declared that his core commission from Christ involved calling people, first Jews and then Gentiles, to fundamental change: to repent from their previous ways, to turn with allegiance and trust towards God, and to demonstrate the genuineness of this inner transformation through observable, righteous actions. This verse highlights the essential elements of initial salvation: a change of mind, a reorientation of life, and practical obedience.

Acts 26 20 Context

Acts chapter 26 is Paul's powerful defense before King Agrippa II, his sister Bernice, and Governor Festus. He is responding to accusations from the Jewish leaders. In this specific speech, Paul recounts his pre-conversion zeal as a persecutor of Christians, his dramatic encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus (vv. 12-18), and then the direct commission he received from the Lord. Verse 20 comes as Paul explains what he began to do immediately after receiving his divine call – fulfilling the mandate given to him to preach "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" (v. 18). Thus, Acts 26:20 directly describes the content and geographical spread of his obedient response to Christ's commission, detailing the very message that agitated the Jewish authorities and ultimately led to his arrest.

Acts 26 20 Word analysis

• but declared (ἀπήγγελλον - apēngellon): This Greek word means to announce, report, or make known. The imperfect tense indicates continuous or repeated action, emphasizing Paul's persistent and consistent preaching. It contrasts with Paul's previous actions as a persecutor, marking a complete turnaround in his life's purpose and activity, demonstrating obedience to Christ's earlier directive.
• first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea: This outlines the initial geographical scope and sequence of Paul's ministry.
  • Damascus: This city was not only the location of his dramatic conversion but also where he first began to preach Christ (Acts 9:19-22). This start demonstrates immediate obedience.
  • Jerusalem: The religious capital of Judaism, central to both the Old Testament prophets and the birth of the early church. Preaching here was essential for the Gospel to confront Judaism at its core.
  • region of Judea: Expanding beyond the capital, showing a comprehensive coverage of the Jewish homeland. Paul respected the principle of "to the Jew first" (Rom 1:16).
  This progression also implicitly fulfills Jesus' Great Commission, which instructed the disciples to be witnesses in "Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
• and then to the Gentiles: This phrase marks a pivotal transition and highlights the universality of Paul's mission. The shift from "first to Jews" to "then to Gentiles" underscores the breaking down of the Jew/Gentile barrier, a core theme in Paul's theology (Eph 2:14). It was revolutionary for its time and a constant source of controversy with conservative Jewish believers.
• that they should repent (μετανοεῖν - metanoein): More than merely feeling sorry for sin (remorse), metanoia signifies a radical "change of mind." It implies a fundamental shift in one's worldview, values, and orientation – turning from sin and towards God. This repentance is not merely an intellectual assent but a profound reorientation of one's entire life purpose and allegiance. It means abandoning self-reliance and trust in human achievement for salvation.
• and turn to God (ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπὶ τὸν Θεόν - epistrephein epi ton Theon): This Greek phrase literally means "to turn around upon God" or "to turn back towards God." It complements "repent," defining the direction of the change. It's an active reorientation, moving away from whatever one was serving (idols, self, sin) and making God the object of one's trust, allegiance, and devotion. For Gentiles, this was a turning from idols to the living God (1 Thes 1:9); for Jews, it was turning to God through Christ (which was radical for them). This phrase implies full conversion and commitment.
• performing deeds appropriate to repentance (ἔργα τῆς μετανοίας ἄξια πράσσοντας - erga tēs metanoias axia prassontas): This means "doing works worthy of repentance." It signifies that genuine inner transformation (repentance and turning) must be outwardly demonstrated through a transformed lifestyle. These deeds are not the means of earning salvation or repentance, but rather the evidence and fruit of it. Paul, like John the Baptist (Matt 3:8; Luke 3:8), emphasizes that true faith produces good works (Jas 2:17-26). It refutes mere intellectual assent or external religious observance without inward change and ethical living. The change of heart necessarily manifests in new patterns of behavior.

Acts 26 20 Bonus section

Paul's systematic approach, addressing specific groups chronologically and geographically, reflects not only his strategic obedience to the heavenly vision but also the progression of the early church as outlined in Acts 1:8. His inclusion of "deeds appropriate to repentance" functions as a direct polemic against prevailing Jewish legalism (which often focused on ritual obedience without heart transformation) and pagan religious practices (which frequently involved empty rituals or moral depravity). For both audiences, the call was revolutionary: it demanded a personal, spiritual, and moral overhaul that went deeper than surface-level adherence. This verse reveals that the foundation of Christian discipleship is always a turning from self and sin to God, which inherently leads to a life consecrated to His will.

Acts 26 20 Commentary

Acts 26:20 serves as a succinct summary of Paul's entire gospel proclamation, highlighting its essential elements and universal reach. Paul's message consistently centered on a divine call for repentance and turning to God, not just as abstract concepts, but as living realities expressed through tangible changes in conduct. He declared this unwavering message first within the Jewish context, recognizing the historical covenant, and then expanded it inclusively to the Gentiles, reflecting God's broader redemptive plan. The emphasis on "deeds appropriate to repentance" underscores that true conversion is never solely an internal or intellectual affair, but a holistic transformation that invariably produces a renewed pattern of living, demonstrating the sincerity of one's heart toward God. This holistic view of repentance confronts any notion of cheap grace or a merely ritualistic religion, advocating instead for a dynamic faith that reorients an entire life.