Acts 26 23

Acts 26:23 kjv

That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

Acts 26:23 nkjv

that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

Acts 26:23 niv

that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles."

Acts 26:23 esv

that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."

Acts 26:23 nlt

that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God's light to Jews and Gentiles alike."

Acts 26 verses

Acts 26 23 Meaning

Acts 26:23 summarizes the core of Paul's gospel message and his defense, arguing that the prophetic scriptures foretold that the Messiah would suffer death, be the very first to conquer death by resurrection, and in doing so, bring divine truth and salvation ("light") to both the Jewish people and all nations (Gentiles). Paul asserts that his preaching aligns entirely with what the Prophets and Moses declared would happen.

Acts 26 23 Context

Paul delivers this defense before King Agrippa II, his sister Bernice, and Governor Festus in Caesarea Maritima. This event occurs towards the end of Paul's missionary career, after his arrest in Jerusalem and subsequent trials. In Acts 26, Paul recounts his dramatic conversion experience on the Damascus Road and how it changed his persecution of Christians into zealous proclamation of Jesus Christ. The specific context for verse 23 is Paul asserting that his message is not revolutionary or seditious but rather the logical fulfillment of the prophecies acknowledged by Agrippa himself. Paul appeals to Agrippa's knowledge of the Prophets, arguing that his message—a suffering, resurrected Messiah who offers light to all—is precisely what the Hebrew Scriptures predicted. The entire chapter serves as Paul's final, eloquent defense of his Christian faith and his missionary endeavors, framed not as a break from Judaism, but as its culmination.

Acts 26 23 Word analysis

• That the Christ: (Greek: ho Christos). "The Christ" is not a proper name but a title, meaning "the Anointed One," equivalent to the Hebrew "Messiah." It signifies the divinely chosen King, High Priest, and Deliverer foretold in the Old Testament. Paul is specifically referring to Jesus as this promised Messiah, linking His identity directly to Old Testament prophecy. The specific nature of "the Christ" here is linked to suffering and resurrection, challenging common Jewish expectations of a conquering political Messiah.
• would suffer: (Greek: πάθειν - pathein). This verb emphasizes a necessary, predestined suffering. It means to experience something, often pain or hardship. Paul asserts that the Messiah's suffering was not an accident or failure but an essential, prophesied component of God's redemptive plan (e.g., Isa 53). This was a major point of contention for many Jews who expected a glorious, triumphant Messiah who would overthrow their oppressors without suffering such humiliation.
• and that as the first: (Greek: kai ei protōtos). The phrase "as the first" (protōtos) marks Christ as pioneering this act. It conveys precedence and supremacy. He is not merely one who rose, but the first in rank and order to rise in a new, imperishable body, establishing a new category of resurrection. This sets Jesus apart from individuals who were previously brought back to life in their mortal bodies (e.g., Lazarus, Jairus's daughter).
• to rise from the dead, (Greek: ex anastaseōs nekrōn). This phrase specifies the nature of His resurrection: "out of/from a resurrection of the dead ones." It's not resuscitation, but a true, transformative conquest over death and Hades, initiating a new kind of life. His resurrection signifies victory, power, and the guarantee of resurrection for all who believe in Him. It's the central pillar of Christian hope and the definitive proof of His Messianic claims and divine power.
• he would proclaim light: (Greek: eite phōtos kataggellein). This combines the concept of "light" (phōs) with "to proclaim/announce" (kataggellein). "Light" in biblical terms is synonymous with truth, knowledge, salvation, righteousness, and God's revelation (e.g., Psa 27:1, John 1:4). To "proclaim light" means to reveal God's saving truth, His grace, and the way to eternal life through Christ. It's an active announcement, not a passive presence. This fulfills prophecies where the Messiah is presented as the source of light in a dark world.
• both to our people: (Greek: tō te laō). "Our people" specifically refers to the Jews, Israel. Paul emphasizes that the message of light was first and foremost for God's chosen people, in line with Old Testament covenants and promises (Rom 1:16). This acknowledges their unique position in God's plan, yet it is also a rebuttal against those who claimed Paul neglected his Jewish heritage or people.
• and to the Gentiles: (Greek: tois ethnesin). "The Gentiles" refers to all non-Jewish nations, the rest of humanity. This inclusion is a radical element for many Jews but is deeply rooted in prophecies that foretold Israel's Messiah would bring salvation to the ends of the earth (Isa 49:6). It highlights the universal scope of God's redemptive plan and justifies Paul's extensive missionary journeys. The light is not exclusively for Israel but breaks ethnic and religious barriers.
• Word-Group analysis:
  • "that the Christ would suffer and... to rise from the dead": This pairing directly connects suffering with glory/resurrection, demonstrating that the path to Messiah's ultimate triumph goes through apparent defeat. This was scandalous to many first-century Jews who separated the "suffering servant" of Isaiah 53 from the victorious king of other prophecies. Paul sees them unified in Jesus.
  • "the first to rise from the dead": This is not just a miracle but an eschatological event, marking Jesus as the pioneer and exemplar for the future resurrection of all believers. It signifies his preeminence and establishes the pattern for those who belong to Him (Col 1:18, 1 Cor 15:20-23).
  • "he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles": This phrase encapsulates the universal mission of the gospel. The message of salvation originating with the Jews (John 4:22) is ultimately intended to bless all families of the earth (Gen 12:3), breaking down the wall of division (Eph 2:14-18) and showing God's impartiality (Acts 10:34-35).

Acts 26 23 Bonus section

• Paul's strategic appeal to the Prophets and Moses was designed to demonstrate that his "new" message was in fact the culmination of their shared heritage, rather than a departure from it. He framed Christianity not as a novel religion but as the proper fulfillment of Judaism.
• The phrase "the first to rise from the dead" carries profound theological weight. It ensures Christ's preeminence and superiority over all creation (Col 1:15-18) and guarantees the future resurrection of those who are "in Christ." His resurrection is not merely a sign but the inaugurating act of a new humanity.
• Paul’s message of “light” going to the Gentiles was particularly controversial among some Jewish factions, who believed God's special favor was exclusively for Israel. Paul, drawing from passages like Isaiah 49, affirmed that this was always part of God's greater plan.
• This verse represents Paul's concise summary of what he witnessed and believed, presenting the core of his theological understanding and missionary mandate directly from the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.

Acts 26 23 Commentary

Paul, facing powerful figures, masterfully distills the essence of his message in Acts 26:23. He argues that the Christ—Jesus of Nazareth—precisely fulfills the Old Testament prophecies, a crucial point of connection for Agrippa who was familiar with Jewish Law and Prophets. The Messianic agenda, as understood by Paul, was fundamentally two-fold: suffering leading to resurrection. The concept of a suffering Messiah was often overlooked or downplayed in favor of a victorious king, but Paul highlights its absolute necessity, validated by Jesus' resurrection. Furthermore, Christ's status as "the first to rise from the dead" signifies not just a historical event, but the dawn of a new era, marking Jesus as the pioneer of life over death for all humanity. This victory enables the global proclamation of "light"—God's salvific truth—to all, beginning with Israel and extending universally to the Gentiles, dismantling traditional barriers and aligning completely with prophetic calls for the Messiah to be a "light to the nations." This statement encapsulates the core tenets of the Christian gospel: a suffering, resurrected Savior who brings universal salvation.