Acts 26:17b,18 - Sanctification: The Process Of Becoming More Like Christ.
Acts 26:17b, 18: Sanctification: The Process Of Becoming More
Like Christ.
Acts 26:17b, 18 (KJV) now I send thee, To open their eyes, and
to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan
unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance
among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Acts 26:17b, 18 (NIV) I am sending you to them to open their
eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of
Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place
among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
Acts 26:17b, 18 (NASB) I am sending you, to open their eyes so
that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of
Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and
an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in
Me.'
Acts 26:17b, 18 (NCV) I am sending you to them to open their
eyes so that they may turn away from darkness to the light, away from
the power of Satan and to God. Then their sins can be forgiven, and
they can have a place with those people who have been made holy by
believing in me.'
Acts 26:17b, 18 (EAV) I am sending you To open their eyes that
they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to
God, so that they may thus receive forgiveness and release from their
sins and a place and portion among those who are consecrated and
purified by faith in Me.
Acts 26:17b, 18 (TLB) I am going to send you to the Gentiles to
open their eyes to their true condition so that they may repent and
live in the light of God instead of in Satan's darkness, so that they
may receive forgiveness for their sins and God's inheritance along
with all people everywhere whose sins are cleansed away, who are set
apart by faith in me.'
This is the third time in Acts the conversion of Paul is
recounted [College Press NIV Commentary]
It should be pointed out that verses 16-18 comprise one sentence
in the Greek. (UBS Translator Handbook Series)
This verse is the grandest condensation of the propaganda of a
disciple of Jesus Christ in the whole of the New Testament. [My Utmost
for His Highest by Oswald Chambers]
Ac 26:17-18 give a perfect summary of what Christ does for men.
(a) He opens their eyes. When Christ comes into a man's life he
enables him to see things he never saw before. (b) He turns them from
the darkness to the light. Before a man meets Christ it is as if he
were facing the wrong way; after meeting Christ he is walking towards
the light and his way is clear before him. (c) He transfers him.from
the power of Satan to the power of God. Once evil had him in thrall
but now God's triumphant power enables him to live in victorious
goodness. (d) He gives him forgiveness of sins and a share with the
sanctified. For the past, the penalty of sin is broken; for the future, life
is recreated and purified. [Barclay Commentary]
Verse 18 is a beautiful description of salvation! [Wiersbe
Expository Outlines]
Ignorance is represented by the eyes being closed, and the
instruction of the gospel by the opening of the eyes.... Darkness is an emblem
of ignorance and of sin, and the pagan nations are often
represented as sitting in darkness. (Barnes' Notes)
A world that lies in wickedness must be sanctified and reformed;
it is not enough for them to have their eyes opened, they must have
their hearts renewed; not enough to be turned from darkness to light,
but they must be turned from the power of Satan unto God. All who
are turned from sin to God, are not only pardoned, but have a grant
of a rich inheritance. The forgiveness of sins makes way for this.
None can be happy who are not holy; and to be saints in heaven we
must be first saints on earth. We are made holy, and saved by faith
in Christ; by which we rely upon Christ as the Lord our
Righteousness, and give up ourselves to him as the Lord our Ruler; by this we
receive the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and eternal
life. [Matthew Henry Commentary]
Sanctification is by faith in Jesus Christ. Here the emphasis is
on the beginning of sanctification at conversion. Sanctification
involves forgiveness of sins. Here the emphasis is on a passive state
given by God to those actively serving Him. God's power makes the
Christian holy. Elsewhere, sanctification is also described as an active
process of growing in Christ's image. [Disciple SB]
In sanctification the regenerated soul deliberately gives up his
right to himself to Jesus Christ, and identifies himself entirely with
God's interest in other men. [My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald
Chambers]
Faithfulness to Christ is an evidence of true salvation.
[Wiersbe Expository Outlines]
Paul gives us here a grim reminder of what it means to be lost.
Apart from Christ, people are blinded and in spiritual darkness. They
are under the sway of Satan and, because of their sins, unforgiven
(under condemnation). Many times we forget these facts. Today when you
look at people who are well dressed, polished, moral, and successful
(at least in the world's eyes), do not automatically assume they
have no needs. Until they put their total trust in Christ, they are
in a terrible state. Let this way of thinking stir you to
compassion (prayer) and action (evangelism). (Life Application Commentary
Series )
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