“to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Acts 26:18
In this verse, Paul is telling King Agrippa about his conversion. Jesus had appeared to him as a light so bright that Paul and those with him fell to the ground. Jesus then explained to Paul why he had appeared to him, and outlined his mission:
“ But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Acts 26:16-18
God not only sent Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of the Jews, but he had a plan to “open the eyes” of the Gentiles as well. The plan of salvation is as old as creation, and is foretold in the Old Testament in Isaiah 53:5, among other places.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.”
The penalty for sin is death, and Jesus paid that penalty for us. Both fully man and fully God, he was the perfect unblemished sacrifice, able to atone for the sins of humanity. In His death and resurrection he defeated death in the ultimate act of voluntary love.
Jesus sent Paul to tell the Gentiles about the everlasting hope that we have through his death and resurrection. For those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus, it is impossible not to tell the world. God’s glory will be proclaimed!
“He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
Luke 19:40