Acts 26:10, commentary and pictures

Paul in Jerusalem shut up many holy believers in prison under authority he had received from the chief priests. When they were put to death he gave his voice against them, voting for their execution and sustaining the condemning decisions without killing them with his own hand, and Stephen was not the only one, for many other faithful people died through his authority. He did this with great zeal while honestly thinking he was doing God service, yet ignorant of Christ, blinded and deceived, he was serving as a mighty instrument of Satan to tear down the church. His open acknowledgment of imprisoning the saints and approving their death shows genuine repentance with no excuse or self-justification, and after the heavenly vision met him in that work transforming mercy made him a new man and turned his zeal into service to build up the church he had torn down. He related this former opposition before Agrippa and other rulers as testimony about his conversion and Jesus, and the contrast between persecuting Christ's followers and witnessing to the risen Christ magnified that testimony and brought the gospel before rulers.

Persecution in Jerusalem Described

In Jerusalem he shut up many of the saints in prison, having received authority for this from the chief priests. When they were put to death he gave his voice against them, voting for their execution and zealously sustaining the condemning decisions. He did not kill them with his own hand, but he had a voice in the decisions that condemned them, prepared the way, and delivered believers of the gospel into the hands that took their lives. Stephen was not the only believer put to death in his persecution.

He consented to Stephen's death and used his authority so that many other faithful, holy people died. He thereby bore personal responsibility for their deaths. He hunted believers, seizing them in their homes and handing them over to the priests and rulers and councils to be imprisoned or condemned to death. There was no evidence of wrongdoing beyond faith in Jesus. His zeal made him a terror to the believers.

He was highly esteemed by the Jews for his zeal. After Stephen's death he was elected to the Sanhedrin in recognition of his part in the persecution. He did this work with great energy and zeal while honestly thinking he was doing God service and prosecuting an ignorant, fanatical sect. He was himself ignorant of the mission and work of Christ, conscientiously bigoted, blinded, deluded and deceived.

He lived in stubborn unbelief that despised and hated Jesus as the world's Redeemer. In bitterness and hatred he ignorantly followed the banner of the prince of darkness. For a time he served as a mighty instrument in the hands of Satan in rebellion against the Son of God to tear down the church.

Repentance and New Life

His open acknowledgment that he shut up many of the saints in prison in Jerusalem by authority from the chief priests and gave his voice against them when they were put to death is genuine repentance and humiliation in a spirit of confession. It is acceptable confession with no excuse for sin and no attempt at self-justification. He does not seek to shield himself or to lessen his guilt but paints his sin in its darkest hue.

After his encounter with Christ he recognized the terrible wrong he had done to those who followed Jesus, including consenting to Stephen's death and helping bring about the deaths of many believers through persecution. The heavenly vision met him while he was engaged in that work of seeking to destroy Christ's followers in stubborn unbelief, despising and hating Jesus of Nazareth as the world's Redeemer. At first it filled him with unspeakable terror, but afterward it proved his greatest consolation as a revelation of divine glory with Jesus enthroned in its midst. From that hour transforming mercy made him a new man, a sincere and fervent believer in Jesus.

His former persecution in Jerusalem, imprisoning many believers and supporting their execution, stands in contrast with his later witness to the risen Christ and his mission to Jews and Gentiles. His past opposition to Jesus and his zeal in delivering believers to death made his conversion and later preaching of Jesus as the Son of God a powerful testimony. After Christ transformed him his zeal was redirected from persecution into service, so that he even felt sorrow at the thought of causing his opponents pain. Though for a time a mighty instrument in the hands of Satan in rebellion against the Son of God to tear down the church, he was chosen by One mightier than Satan to build up the church he had been tearing down. Taking the martyred Stephen's place, he became a preacher who suffered for Christ's name and spread far and wide the news of salvation through Christ's blood.

Testimony Before Rulers

This verse is part of Paul's own account of his former opposition to Jesus and his seeking to destroy Jesus' followers before his conversion. He related that history before Agrippa as testimony about his conversion and about Jesus. That same testimony concerning Jesus was thus made known before kings and governors, and before princes and nobles.

His speech before the ruler, even while recounting his persecution of Christians, was marked by dignified courtesy, respect, and persuasive eloquence. It stands as a model showing that Christian courtesy and a spirit of respect can be shown before those who oppose or persecute believers.

Relating his past helped make his testimony concerning Jesus known and brought hearers to conviction. The contrast between his former persecution in Jerusalem — imprisoning many believers by authority from the chief priests and supporting their execution — and his later witness to the risen Christ and his mission to Jews and Gentiles magnifies that testimony. The gospel for which he was imprisoned was thereby brought before princes and nobles, so his imprisonment did not prevent the gospel from reaching rulers.