Acts 26:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is as though he said: "Christ, having risen from the dead, dies no more" (Rom 6:9). This is evident from the fact that he preaches this to all, and that they themselves listen readily.

And see: he does not speak in the same way in the assembly of the Jews and in the tribunal. There he said, "You killed" Christ (Acts 13:28).

Here he says nothing of the kind, lest he inflame their anger still more. Yet he points to the same thing with the words: "Christ had to suffer." Thus he does not touch upon their guilt.

What I proclaim, he says, namely, that Christ first rose from the dead, I confirm by the prophets. The prophets also proclaim this. Therefore receive this teaching as being in harmony with the prophetic word.

“The first from the resurrection of the dead.” Jesus rose first and no longer dies. Those raised by Him or by His disciples died again, awaiting the future general resurrection.

He added that he preached nothing new, but only what Moses and the prophets had foretold. Namely, Christ the Messiah had to suffer, rise from the dead, and proclaim light to the whole world, to Jews and Gentiles.

Paul could suppose that all this was known to the king and beyond doubt for him. But to a Roman it seemed strange. It was also strange to the cold governor that Paul said all this with such animation.

He saw in it nothing more than fantasy. "Your great Jewish learning," the procurator said to Paul, "is driving you mad!"

But Paul answered with renewed assurance: "I am not speaking madness. My words are words of truth and sound reason."

The speech of the Apostle Paul at this trial before King Agrippa is defensive, just as his speech before the Jews on the stairs 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 defends himself in such a way that he also bears solemn witness to Christ, who died and rose again according to the prediction of Moses and the other ancient prophets. He also calls his hearers to repentance and conversion to God.

For this reason the Jews seized him in the temple and wished to tear him to pieces. But in this danger, as in every other, God came to his aid. The witness he bore to small and great was neither blasphemy nor apostasy from God, but simple truth. It directly agreed with the teaching of Moses and the prophets: that the Messiah had to suffer, and that from His resurrection from the dead light had to shine forth for the enlightenment of both the Gentiles and His people.

In this general content the Apostle indicates three particular chief features of the prophecies concerning Christ. Namely, He was once to suffer (Isa 53 and parallels), rise from the dead (Ps 15:8-11; cf. Acts 2:24 and following), and proclaim light to the Jewish people and the Gentiles.

For the last, see Isa 42:3; cf. Mt 12:21; Deut 18:15-18; cf. Acts 3:22 and following.

The Apostle expresses the prophecy of the Lord's Resurrection with the words, "having risen first from the dead." He uses them in the same sense as the expression "firstborn from the dead" (Col 1:18).

This means that Christ, having risen, became the foundation and beginning of the resurrection of all men (1 Cor 15:33; cf. note on Acts 23:6 and parallels).

"He will proclaim light" means that He will enlighten with the true teaching about the salvation of the world; cf. note on v. 18 and Mt 4:16.

The Apostle also speaks of his dogmatic teaching in an adapted manner. To the Jews he says that he taught on the basis of the predictions of Moses and the prophets.

To the Gentiles he says that Christian teaching is a light destined to enlighten all men. From this the Gentiles should understand that the Apostle is not a narrow, fanatical sectarian.

Rather, he is a man proclaiming a universal teaching. For everyone it should be as necessary and pleasant as radiance amid deep darkness.

"See," says Saint John Chrysostom, "how his speech is free from flattery, and how he attributes everything to God. Then see how much boldness there is in, 'I stand to this day,' and firmness in, 'I am witnessed to by the prophets.'"