Who is speaking in Acts 26:15, and to whom is the message directed? Historical Setting and Immediate Context Acts 26 records the apostle Paul’s defense before King Agrippa II, his sister Bernice, and the Roman governor Porcius Festus in Caesarea-Maritima (Acts 25:13–27). Paul recounts the events of his Damascus-road encounter (approximately A.D. 34–35) which first appear in Acts 9 and are retold in Acts 22. Acts 26:13-18 supplies the fullest version, given under oath before Jewish and Roman authorities. Verse 15 captures the pivotal exchange that forever redirected Paul’s life and theology. Text of Acts 26:15 “‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.” Speaker Identified: The Risen Jesus of Nazareth 1. The Greek verb φησίν (“He said”) in v. 15b is singular, masculine, and third-person, matching “the Lord” (ὁ Κύριος). 2. Jesus’ self-identification uses the emphatic ἐγώ εἰμι Ἰησοῦς (“I am Jesus”), the same form employed in post-resurrection appearances (e.g., Luke 24:39). 3. The same exchange is preserved verbatim in Acts 9:5-6 and Acts 22:8, underscoring Lukan consistency across earliest manuscripts: 𝔓⁴⁵ (c. A.D. 200), Codex Sinaiticus (𝔐 01, 4th cent.), and Codex Vaticanus (𝔅 03, 4th cent.). Addressee Identified: Saul of Tarsus (Paul the Apostle) 1. Saul is mentioned by name in Acts 9:4; the personal second-person singular pronoun (“you are persecuting”) confirms direct address. 2. Paul himself, under royal and Roman scrutiny, attests to hearing an audible voice (Acts 26:14). Behavioral science notes that falsehood under potential capital charges is improbable; moreover, group-perception hallucination theories fail because companions also heard the voice (Acts 9:7). 3. Paul’s radical vocational shift—from persecutor to evangelist—is best explained by genuine encounter (cf. Galatians 1:13-16 for his own epistolary corroboration, dated A.D. 48-49). Theological Weight of the Speaker Jesus speaks from heaven several years after His crucifixion (circa A.D. 30). This dialogue therefore presupposes: • A bodily resurrection (Luke 24:1-7; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8). • His exaltation to divine authority (Acts 2:33-36). Paul’s recognition of “Lord” (Κύριε) conveys immediate acknowledgment of deity, in line with Isaiah 45:23 and Philippians 2:10-11. Scope of the Message Immediate: Jesus commissions Paul as “minister and witness” (Acts 26:16-18). Mediate: The gospel will reach Jews and Gentiles (v. 17). Ultimate: All hearers, including Agrippa and Festus, are implicitly summoned to repentance (Acts 26:23, 27-29). Historical Corroboration 1. Gallio Inscription (Delphi, A.D. 51-52) synchronizes Acts 18:12-17 with Roman chronology, reinforcing Luke’s accuracy. 2. Sergius Paulus inscription (Pisidian Antioch) confirms Acts 13:7. Such precision bolsters confidence that Luke accurately reports private dialogue when public data are verifiable. Philosophical and Behavioral Implications A persecutor’s sudden embrace of the faith he sought to eradicate constitutes powerful testimonial evidence. Modern cognitive-dissonance and conversion studies demonstrate that dramatic worldview flips typically follow profound personal experiences rather than fabricated events. Application for Today’s Reader The risen Christ who confronted Saul still addresses every skeptic with the same question implied in v. 14: “Why do you resist Me?” Recognition of Jesus as Lord—and acceptance of His redemptive work—remains the only path to reconciliation with God (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Answer Summarized Speaker: The risen Lord Jesus Christ. Addressee: Saul of Tarsus (later the apostle Paul). |
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