Acts 26:15-23: a reflection

15“I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16But 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; 17delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you, 18to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen, 23how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.”

As Paul stands before King Agrippa, he recounts how the risen Christ met him and commissioned him to open people's eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, that they might receive forgiveness. And he sums up his response in a simple phrase: Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Whatever it cost him, and it cost him much, arrest, danger, the attempt on his life, Paul followed through on the call God had given him; he did not shrink from it or lay it aside. He was not disobedient to the vision, but obeyed it faithfully, whatever it cost.

Notice Paul's faithful obedience: he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. God had given him a call, a commission, a vision of what he was to do; and Paul obeyed it, following it through despite the cost. He did not receive the call and then let it slide, or abandon it when it grew dangerous; he was not disobedient to it. The obedience cost him dearly, seizure, threats, the attempt on his life; yet he followed through. His whole ministry was the working out of that obedience: not disobedient to the vision, but faithful to it, whatever it brought upon him.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too are called to be obedient to what God has shown us, following through despite the cost. God gives us callings, convictions, things he has shown us we are to do; and we can let them slide, or abandon them when they grow costly or hard, or never quite follow through. But Paul was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; he obeyed it, whatever it cost. Do not let the call God has given you slide or lay it aside when it grows costly; follow it through, as Paul was not disobedient to the heavenly vision despite all it cost him. Be obedient to what God has shown you and called you to, following it through despite the cost, as Paul said he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; for God gives us callings to be obeyed, not laid aside, and faithful follow-through, whatever the cost, is what he asks of us.

Lord, as Paul stands before King Agrippa, he recounts how the risen Christ met him and commissioned him to open people's eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, that they might receive forgiveness. And he sums up his response in a simple phrase: therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Whatever it cost him, and it cost him much, arrest, danger, the attempt on his life, Paul followed through on the call you had given him; he did not shrink from it or lay it aside. Show me Paul's faithful obedience: he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. You had given him a call, a commission; and he obeyed it, following it through despite the cost. He did not receive the call and then let it slide, or abandon it when it grew dangerous. The obedience cost him dearly; yet he followed through. His whole ministry was the working out of that obedience: not disobedient to the vision, but faithful to it. Take that to my heart, for I too am called to be obedient to what you have shown me, following through despite the cost. You give me callings, convictions, things you have shown me I am to do; and I can let them slide, or abandon them when they grow costly or hard, or never quite follow through. But Paul was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Keep me from letting the call you have given me slide or laying it aside when it grows costly; help me follow it through, Lord, as Paul was not disobedient to the heavenly vision despite all it cost him.