How does Acts 26:15 reveal Jesus' identity to Saul and to us today? Setting the Scene • Saul is standing before Agrippa recounting the Damascus road event. • He had been hunting followers of “the Way,” convinced Jesus was dead and His movement a threat. • A blinding glory halted him; he fell to the ground and heard a voice. Jesus Speaks His Name “ ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.” (Acts 26:15) • Jesus answers Saul’s most urgent question with His own name—no angel, no proxy, but Jesus Himself. • By saying, “I am Jesus,” He confirms He is alive, resurrected, and personally involved. • The direct speech links to the divine “I am” formula (Exodus 3:14; John 8:58), underscoring deity. Lord and Messiah Revealed • Saul already called the shining figure “Lord” (Greek: kyrios), a title for God (Psalm 110:1 LXX). • Jesus accepts the title and adds His human name, uniting divine authority with the incarnate Messiah. • “Whom you are persecuting” unites Jesus with His church (1 Corinthians 12:27). Touch the believers, touch the risen Lord. Personal Encounter, Universal Message What Saul learned in a moment, we learn through Scripture: 1. Jesus lives—bodily resurrected (Luke 24:39; Revelation 1:18). 2. Jesus reigns—addressed as Lord, possessing heavenly glory (Philippians 2:9-11). 3. Jesus identifies with His people—our suffering is His (Matthew 25:40). 4. Jesus confronts sin—Saul’s violence exposed, yet mercy offered (1 Timothy 1:13-16). Connected Witnesses in Scripture • Acts 9:4-5 and Acts 22:8 repeat the same declaration, affirming historical certainty. • John 20:28—Thomas calls Him “My Lord and my God,” matching Saul’s revelation. • Hebrews 1:3—Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory,” reflected in the blinding light. • Isaiah 42:8—God shares His glory with no one; Jesus sharing it proves oneness with the Father. Applications for Today • Confidence: The risen, exalted Jesus still speaks and saves. • Comfort: Our hardships matter to Him; He feels what His body feels. • Clarity: Christianity centers on a living Person, not merely teachings. • Commission: As with Saul, encountering Jesus propels us to witness (Acts 26:16-18). |
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