Acts 26 · Verse 16

Acts 26:16

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
Acts 26:16, King James Version

Acts 26:16 in other translations

BSB‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you.
WEBBut arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will reveal to you;
ASVBut arise, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee;
YLTbut rise, and stand upon thy feet, for for this I appeared to thee, to appoint thee an officer and a witness both of the things thou didst see, and of the things in which I will appear to thee,
DARBYbut rise up and stand on thy feet; for, for this purpose have I appeared to thee, to appoint thee to be a servant and a witness both of what thou hast seen, and of what I shall appear to thee in,
BBEBut get up on your feet: for I have come to you for this purpose, to make you a servant and a witness of the things in which you have seen me, and of those in which you will see me;
WebsterBut rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of the things which thou hast seen, and of the things in which I will appear to thee;

What does Acts 26:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 26:16-18
16-18. But rise, &c.--Here the apostle appears to condense into one statement various sayings of his Lord to him in visions at different times, in order to present at one view the grandeur of the commission with which his Master had clothed him [Alford]. a minister ... both of these things which thou hast seen--putting him on a footing with those "eye-witnesses and ministers of the word" mentioned in Lu 1:2. and of those in which I will appear to thee--referring to visions he was thereafter to be favored with; such as Ac 18:9, 10; 22:17-21; 23:11; 2Co 12:1-10, &c. (Ga 1:12).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. But rise, etc. The particulars mentioned in this verse and the two following are not recorded in the account of Paul's conversion in Acts 9. But it is not improbable that many circumstances may have occurred which are not recorded. Paul dwells on them here at length, in order particularly to show his authority for doing what he had done in preaching to the Gentiles.

To make thee a minister. A minister of the gospel; a preacher of the truth.

And a witness. Acts 22:15.

Which thou hast seen. On the road to Damascus; that is, of the Lord Jesus, and of the fact that he was risen from the dead.

And of those things, etc. Of those further manifestations of my person, protection, and will, which I will yet make to you. It is evident from this, that the Lord Jesus promised to manifest himself to Paul in his ministry, and to make to him still further displays of his will and glory. Comp. Acts 22:17,18. This was done by his rescuing him from destruction and danger; by the intimation of his will; and by the growing and expanding view which Paul was permitted to take of the character and perfections of the Lord Jesus. In this we see that it is the duty of ministers to bear witness not only to the truth of religion in general, or of that which they can demonstrate by argument; but more especially of that which they experience in their own hearts, and which they understand by having themselves been the subjects of it. No man is qualified to enter the ministry who has not a personal and practical and saving view of the glory and perfections of the Lord Jesus, and who does not go to his work as a witness of those things which he has felt. And no man enters the ministry with these feelings, who has not, as Paul had, a promise that he shall see still brighter displays of the perfections of the Saviour, and be permitted to advance in the knowledge of him and of his work. The highest personal consolation in this work is the promise of their being admitted to ever-growing and expanding views of the glory of the Lord Jesus, and of experiencing his presence, guidance, and protection.

(|) "make thee" "Appoint" (f) "minister" Eph 3:7, Col 1:23,25 (g) "witness" Acts 22:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 But rise, etc. - The particulars mentioned here, and in the two following verses, are not given in Act 9:1-9, nor in Act 22:6-11, where he gives an account of his conversion. He has detailed the different circumstances of that important event, as he saw it necessary; and perhaps there were several others which then took place, that he had no opportunity of mentioning, because there was nothing in succeeding occurrences which rendered it necessary to produce them. To make thee a minister - Ὑπηρετην, An under-rower; that is, one who is under the guidance and authority of another; an assistant, or servant. So Paul was to act solely under the authority of Jesus Christ; and tug hard at the oar, in order to bring the vessel, through the tempestuous ocean, to the safe harbour. See the concluding observations on John 6 (note). And a witness - Μαρτυρα, A martyr. Though this word literally means a witness, yet we apply it only to such persons as have borne testimony to the truth of God at the hazard and expense of their lives. In this sense, also, ancient history states St. Paul to have been a witness; for it is said he was beheaded at Rome, by the command of Nero. In the which I will appear - Here Christ gives him to understand that he should have farther communications from himself; and this may refer either to those interpositions of Divine Providence by which he was so often rescued from destruction, or to those encouragements which he received in dreams, visions, trances, etc., or to that general inspiration under which he was enabled to apprehend and reveal the secret things of God, for the edification of the Church. To all of which may be added that astonishing power by which he was so often enabled to work miracles for the confirmation of the truth.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 26:12-23

Paul was made a Christian by Divine power; by a revelation of Christ both to him and in him; when in the full career of his sin. He was made a minister by Divine authority: the same Jesus who appeared to him in that glorious light, ordered him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. A world that sits in darkness must be enlightened; those must be brought to know the things that belong to their everlasting peace, who…

Read the full comment on Acts 26:12-23 →

Acts 26:16 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀλλ᾽all᾽ButG235
ἀνάστηθιanastēthido rise upG450
καὶkaiandG2532
στῆθιstēthido standG2476
ἐπὶepionG1909
τοὺςtoustheG3588
πόδαςpodasfeetG4228
σου·souof you;G4771
εἰςeistoG1519
τοῦτοtoutothis [purpose]G3778
γὰρgarforG1063
ὤφθηνōphthēnI have appearedG3700
σοιsoito youG4771
προχειρίσασθαίprocheirisasthaito appointG4400
σεseyouG4771
ὑπηρέτηνhupēretēna servantG5257
καὶkaiandG2532
μάρτυραmarturaa witnessG3144
ὧνhōnof that whichG3739
τεtebothG5037
εἶδέςeidesyou have seenG1492
μεmeof MeG3165
ὧνhōnof the things in whichG3739
τεtethenG5037
ὀφθήσομαίophthēsomaiI will appearG3700
σοι,soito you,G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 26:16

  • Acts 22:14-15

    And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

  • Ezekiel 2:1

    And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

  • Daniel 10:11

    And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

  • 1 Timothy 1:12

    And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

  • Galatians 1:12

    For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

  • Romans 15:16

    That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

  • Acts 23:11

    And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:1

    Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

  • 2 Corinthians 12:1-7

    It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. …

  • Romans 1:5

    By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

  • Ephesians 3:7-8

    Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

  • Colossians 1:25

    Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
rise.
9:6-9; 22:10
to make.
9:15,16; 13:1-4; 22:14,15
a minister.
1:17,25; 6:4; 20:24; 21:19; Ro 1:5; 15:16; 2Co 4:1; 5:18; Eph 3:7,8
Col 1:7,23,25; 1Th 3:2; 1Ti 1:12; 4:6; 2Ti 4:5
in the.
18:9,10; 22:17-21; 23:11; 27:23,24; 2Co 12:1-7; Ga 1:12; 2:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 26:15

    And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

  • Acts 26:16

    But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

  • Acts 26:17

    Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

Read all of Acts 26

Acts 26:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas levántate, y ponte sobre tus pies; porque para esto te he aparecido, para ponerte por ministro y testigo de las cosas que has visto, y de aquellas en que apareceré á ti:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais lève-toi et tiens-toi sur tes pieds: car je te suis apparu afin de te désigner pour serviteur et témoin, et des choses que tu as vues et de celles pour la révélation desquelles je t’apparaîtrai,
German
Elberfelder 1871		aber richte dich auf und stelle dich auf deine Füße; denn hierzu bin ich dir erschienen, dich zu einem Diener und Zeugen zu verordnen, sowohl dessen, was du gesehen hast, als auch worin ich dir erscheinen werde,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sed exsurge, et sta super pedes tuos: ad hoc enim apparui tibi, ut constituam te ministrum, et testem eorum quæ vidisti, et eorum quibus apparebo tibi,