But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you (Acts 26:16).
In Acts 26, the evangelist gives us insight into Paul’s witness before the King and the Roman governor. Paul, a converted blasphemer, asks King Agrippa, “why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?” (Acts 26:8). Every God-fearing person must know that it is not an incredible thing for God to raise the dead!
With this statement, Paul sets the stage for conversion with a personal testimony. Everyone in Jerusalem knew of his zeal. Nevertheless, he recounts his unholy zealous record, saying, “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities,” but a light shined from heaven with brightness greater than the sun and with heavenly power, knocking him and his companions to the ground! He heard Someone speaking to him in the Hebrew language. So he responded, saying, “’Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me’” (Acts 26:9-18).
Every believer has a story. Let us not underestimate the value and power of your encounter with Jesus nor of the power He used to get your attention. Someone needs to hear the Gospel through you, one of His redeemed ones. Your direction in life has been dramatically changed as was Paul’s. The Gospel has opened your eyes and has turned you from darkness to light and from the power of satan to God! Therefore, I urge you to witness to both small and great of His saving grace.