(The Lord speaking is red text)
Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
“So, King Agrippa, I did not disobey the vision from heaven!
So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
Wherefore, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
Whereupon{G3606}, O king{G935} Agrippa{G67}, I was{G1096} not{G3756} disobedient{G545} unto the heavenly{G3770} vision{G3701}:
Acts 26:19 is part of the Apostle Paul's defense before King Agrippa II, a Roman client king, and his sister Bernice, as well as the Roman governor Festus. This event takes place around 60 AD, during Paul's imprisonment in Caesarea following his arrest in Jerusalem. In this verse, Paul recounts his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, where he encountered a vision of the risen Jesus Christ. The verse captures a pivotal moment in Paul's testimony, emphasizing his obedience to the divine calling he received despite its radical transformation of his life.
The themes present in this verse include divine revelation, obedience to God's will, and the transformative power of faith. Paul, formerly known as Saul, was a persecutor of the early Christian church until his dramatic conversion. His statement of not being disobedient to the heavenly vision underscores his commitment to the mission given to him by Christ—to carry the Gospel to the Gentiles. This verse reflects the broader narrative of Acts, which details the spread of Christianity from a Jewish sect to a worldwide faith, largely through the missionary efforts of Paul.
Historically, this speech is significant as it provides insight into the early Christian understanding of the resurrection and the Great Commission, as well as the legal proceedings faced by Christians in the first century. Paul's address to Agrippa, a Jewish ruler with knowledge of Jewish customs and beliefs, serves as a rhetorical appeal to both Jewish tradition and the universality of the Christian message. The verse also highlights the tension between the emerging Christian movement and the Roman authorities, who struggled to understand the new faith's implications within the empire's religious and political landscape.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)