Acts 26:23
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. 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.
Paul spoke these words in his defense before Agrippa as a prisoner answering charges without fear of rank or display. They declare only what Moses and the prophets said would come, that the Scriptures foretold Christ's suffering, death and resurrection and were fulfilled at His first advent. The promised Messiah had appeared as Jesus of Nazareth, a man among men who fulfilled every specification of prophecy and then suffered death on the cross at Calvary to redeem a lost world. He broke the bands of death as the first to rise from the dead, and rose and ascended to heaven triumphant and victorious over death and the grave. As the risen Saviour He brings light to the Jews and to the Gentiles through the gospel, turning people from darkness and Satan's power to God, so that through His name alone they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among the sanctified.
Defense Before Agrippa
This declaration belongs to Paul's defense before Agrippa, given while he stood as a prisoner before the king in the presence of a company of officials and prominent citizens, and he answered the charges laid against him without being intimidated by rank or display. His imprisonment for the gospel became the occasion for the gospel to be heard by people in power, so that what he preached was brought before rulers and nobles. His testimony about Jesus was carried before kings and governors, and his witness to small and great reached people of every rank.
The point at issue in the questions raised against him was his claim that Jesus, though dead, was alive. As the voice at Damascus bade him, he proclaimed a risen Saviour in Damascus, in Jerusalem, throughout all Judea and in regions afar off, and for these causes the Jews caught him in the temple and went about to kill him, yet having obtained help of God he continued unto that day witnessing these things.
He testified before Agrippa with clearness and power, and his knowledge of Scripture, enlightened after his conversion, enabled him to explain the fulfilled prophecies clearly and boldly. The resurrection should not seem incredible, for at the gate of Damascus he verily looked upon and heard and spoke with the crucified and risen Christ. It was the same Jesus who had walked the streets of Jerusalem and died on Calvary, who rose and ascended to heaven, seen as verily as Cephas, James, John and the other disciples had seen and talked with Jesus.
Prophecy Fulfilled in Jesus
Paul preached nothing new but only what Moses and the prophets said would come. The Scriptures foretold that Christ would suffer, die, and rise from the dead, and those prophecies were fulfilled at His first advent. His message was the witness that this foretold suffering, resurrection, and enlightening of Jews and Gentiles had come to pass.
The Messiah of prophecy had already appeared in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. The Old Testament had declared He would come as a man among men, and in His life He fulfilled every specification outlined by Moses and the prophets. As the divine Son of God in human form He came to redeem a lost world by enduring the cross and despising its shame. Rejected and crucified, He suffered death on the cross at Calvary. He was the first to rise from the dead by breaking the bands of death. Then He rose and ascended to heaven, triumphant and victorious over death and the grave.
Light to Jews and Gentiles
The risen Saviour shows and brings light through the gospel to the people, the Jews, and to the Gentiles. He is the anointed, crucified and risen Saviour, the first to rise from the dead, who suffered and rose and ascended to heaven, and the prophets bear witness to Him. His witness is to small and great, to people of every rank, proclaiming the fulfillment of what Moses and the prophets said would come.
His light turns people from darkness and Satan's power to God. It calls all classes to repent and turn to God and do works fit for repentance. His name was thus brought to the Gentiles in Paul's testimony carried before kings and governors, so they could hear and many could be converted.
The risen Christ alone through His name can forgive sins. Through Him people may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among the sanctified. Grace and pardon are offered through the crucified Redeemer. That offer of salvation was set before Agrippa, who refused its mercy even though he was almost persuaded to accept it.