Acts chapter 26

vs 11

Forcing them to blaspheme sounds just like the Jews trying to force Jesus to blaspheme. I'm surprised Paul didn't try just accusing them of blasphemy and getting them stoned anyway - that got done too.

The fact that his zealousness is expressed by travelling around outside Jerusalem is probably a bit of a mark of how insular the Jerusalem Jews were.

vs 12

Probably many of the same priests who are accusing him now.

vs 13

And so Luke starts on Paul's testimony a third time. Well, I think we've only heard it from Paul twice, but it shows us how powerful he thought his testimony was.

vs 14

In Aramaic, that's interesting. Even though Jesus had ascended, he does not speak the "holy language" of Hebrew. He speaks Aramaic. He says something new in this story too, about kicking against goads. A goad is a large pointy stick you use for encouraging livestock in a specific direction. I assume that occasionally cows would kick against the goads. So this is what Paul was doing, but it was hard for him.

vs 15

When someone appears in a bright light on the road, then calling them "Lord" is generally a good idea. Especially when it turns out you've been persecuting them. Uh oh.

vs 16

So here we see Jesus appointing Paul to his special position. If you've ever wondered why you weren't converted in a pillar of light walking between Damascus and Jerusalem, it's because you weren't first persecuting Christians, and you aren't called as the apostle to the Gentiles.

vs 17

When Jesus says "sending you to them" does he mean both Jews and Gentiles, or just to Gentiles? Them is an exclusive term. In Jewish thought, Jew + Gentile = everyone imaginable. So if Paul is called to go to everyone, why not just say that? Not a conclusive argument by any means, but it's a start.

Jesus also starts out straight away by telling Paul that he's going to need rescuing from these groups. Great start to the ministry.

vs 18

That's a fairly good summary. Did Jesus really say that, or is that Paul explaining a bit more gospel to King Agrippa under the radar? No reason for Jesus not to have said this - I mean, how much of the gospel did Paul know before this point? It at least shows the endgame of Jesus' plan - revelation of sinful position, forgiveness of sin, sanctification by faith.

vs 19

Who would be? I guess plenty of people. Jonah comes to mind.

vs 20

Wow, there's something I think we've really lost in our gospel - repent and then demonstrate that repentance by your deeds. I think the pendulum is just starting to swing back in that direction after many years of antinomianism, especially in the Brethos.

vs 21

Wait, why? Oh, because he's been travelling around preaching repentance in the name of Christ. A good enough reason for them to as any.