From Darkness To Light Series

Acts 26:16–32 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 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.’ 19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 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. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 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.” 24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.” 30 Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” (ESV)

(In current popular thought) there is ridicule to the idea that the world is in darkness. (People) point to the progress….made in the fields of medicine, genetics, engineering, space technology and travel, etc, as clear evidence that the world is no longer the victim of darkness and ignorance. (Today’s individual considers themselves) enlightened. And it would be foolish to deny that we have indeed benefited tremendously from the advance of human knowledge. But at the moral and spiritual level the world seems to have made little headway, and is still in darkness. Nations still cannot live together in peace and harmony, evil and wrong-doing still flourishes in our towns and cities, and covetousness and hatred continue to bring pain and suffering to millions of people. And the reason the world is in darkness is because it is estranged from the God who created it and brought it into being. ‘God is light and in him is no darkness at all’ (1 John 1:5). Our task (in the church, and as preachers), is to enable people to turn from darkness to light by being reconciled to God through faith in Christ.( Williams, P. (2004). Acts: Church on the Move: An Expositional Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles (pp. 222–223). Leominster: DayOne.)

In Acts, 26, Paul’s gospel presentation before King Agrippa … offers a testimony of his obedience to the divine commission he received. Those to whom he was to go would turn “From darkness to light,” their “eyes having been opened.” Having been blind to the existence, or to the nature and character, or to the claims of God; or blind to the worth of the human soul, or to the true end and aim of human life, or to the solemnity of death and judgment; or blind to the excellency of holy service, to the beauty of holiness, to the blessedness of consecration and self-denial; they were to perceive, to understand, to rejoice in the truth, to walk in the light. Their experience in the spiritual realm would answer to his in the material world who should awake from blackest night to brightest day. (Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). Acts of the Apostles (Vol. 2, p. 272). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.)