Acts 26:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The other and stronger proof of the resurrection is from deeds. What is it? That Christ, risen from the dead, spoke with him. He confirms the last of the proofs by recounting in detail his former error. He also tells how he heard the words, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” Then he shows the love of God for mankind, and how the Lord appeared to him while being persecuted by him.

The speech of the Apostle Paul at this trial, in the presence of King Agrippa, is likewise a defense, just as his speech before the Jews on the steps of the Jerusalem fortress was. But now the Apostle spoke with greater freedom than he had then, before a crowd of fanatics. Since he was not interrupted and could speak fully, he defended himself in such a way that he also bore solemn witness to Christ. He testified that Christ had died and risen, according to the prophecy of Moses and the other ancient prophets. He also called his hearers to repentance and conversion to God.

Therefore he asked them to hear him patiently, and once more recounted the well-known story of his conversion. He had turned from being a strict and fanatical Pharisee to faith. He declared that his people's messianic hope had already truly been fulfilled in Jesus the Nazarene. At first he had fiercely persecuted His followers. But Christ personally revealed His glory to him and brought him to know that He had risen from the dead. Why might this faith have seemed implausible even to his hearers? At first it had seemed so to him as well. Yet how could he withstand the personal testimony of Christ Himself? How could he disobey the heavenly voice? That voice sent him to open the eyes of both Jews and Gentiles, so that they might turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Thus, through faith in Jesus, they might receive forgiveness of sins and a portion among the saints. He was not disobedient to this command; for detailed interpretation, see Acts 22:3-21.

Second, the Apostle says that all the travelers, both he and his companions, fell to the ground. Chapter 22 says nothing about this, while chapter 9 says that Paul's companions stood speechless, Acts 9:7. There is, at first sight, a disagreement between the present account by the Apostle himself and the account of the sacred historian. Yet it is no strain to suppose the following in order to reconcile this seeming disagreement. Immediately after the extraordinary light shone around them, all fell to the ground, both Paul and his companions. But the companions rose at once and stood in fear and amazement during the whole time the vision continued for Paul. This supposition has firm support in the different degrees of impression produced by the appearance upon Paul and upon his companions.

The Lord's words to the Apostle Paul transmitted here are not all given in the earlier accounts of this event. Therefore one must suppose that the author of Acts had no opportunity to give them earlier. It is natural that, from many speeches, only what is essential and necessary is often cited. According to Saint John Chrysostom, "Paul speaks as though saying: by this I was convinced. By this appearance He converted me and convinced me so that I could not resist." "Encouraging Paul, the Lord reveals to him the purpose of His appearance to him. It was to make him a minister and witness on an equal footing with the other apostles. Among other things, he was to be a witness of His resurrection, as were the other apostles; see Acts 3:15; 1 Cor 9:1; 1 Cor 15:4-8. Moreover, the Lord Himself promises to reveal His will to him. We see this in his later history"; see Acts 22:17; Acts 23:11.