Acts 26:12
What does Acts 26:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 26:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 26:12 means
Paul situates his conversion within history: he was traveling to Damascus under official commission from the chief priests. He was on mission, not retreat. This underscores the dramatic nature of what follows—God interrupted a purposeful persecutor. The legal authority he carried also shows that the Way was significant enough to provoke coordinated suppression. Yet Christ, the risen Lord, met him on that road. This sets the scene for divine initiative: salvation comes not by Paul seeking Jesus but by Jesus seeking Paul. The persecutor will become an apostle by sovereign call, proving that grace outruns human rebellion.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Whereupon as I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,
KJV
King James Version · 1611Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Whereupon as I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then, when I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and orders of the chief priests,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`In which things, also, going on to Damascus--with authority and commission from the chief priests--
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Whereupon, when I was going to Damascus with authority and permission of the chief priest,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And when, [engaged] in this, I was journeying to Damascus, with authority and power from the chief priests,
Context
The narrative turns from Paul’s past actions to the decisive encounter. Verse 12 introduces the Damascus journey. Immediately, verses 13–15 describe a heavenly light, a voice in Hebrew, and Jesus’ self-identification. Then verses 16–18 present the commission that defines Paul’s life work. The move from official earthly authority to superior heavenly authority is central to Paul’s defense: his mission is not self-appointed but commanded by the risen Christ.
v.11And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.
v.12This passage
v.13at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them that journeyed with me.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 29:26
Jehovah hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that there may be officers in the house of Jehovah, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in the stocks and in shackles.
- Isaiah 10:1
Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers that write perverseness;
- Acts 9:1
But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
- 1 Kings 21:8
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, and that dwelt with Naboth.
- Psalms 94:20
Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with thee, Which frameth mischief by statute?
- John 7:45
The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why did ye not bring him?
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