“to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:18

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Though clunky, a literal translation would be, “to open their eyes – the turned – from darkness to light, and the authority of Satan unto God. They received forgiveness of sins and a lot among those having been sanctified – the faith in Me” (CG).

The previous verse is provided with the addition of the ongoing words of this verse, “…delivering you from the people and the Gentiles to whom now I send you, to open their eyes.” “Their eyes” is thus referring to those to whom the Lord is sending Paul. Of them, and in particular the Gentiles to whom his main ministry was directed, the Lord next says, “the turned – from darkness to light.”

Paul is to be the vehicle by which this change was to come about. The people of the world without Christ are in darkness. It is a state from which they could not bring themselves. There is no ability to discern the mystery of the gospel apart from it being specially revealed to a person. This was to become Paul’s ministry.

And he was the perfect person to accomplish this. He was a living metaphor of these words. He was spiritually blind and he was made physically blind as well. However, he was brought into the light of Christ, and he was healed of his physical darkness at the same time. He was blind, but now he saw. He could fully empathize with those he ministered to because of this.

As for the change in a person who receives this light, Jesus continues His words, saying, “and the authority of Satan unto God.”

The thoughts are completely tied together. If one is of Satan, he is blind, he is without light, and he is under the authority of Satan, not of God. This is seen from the first pages of Scripture, and it carries through in the words of Jesus and the apostles. It even goes through the book of Revelation until Satan is finally cast into the Lake of Fire.

John, in his first epistle, sums this thought up –

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:8, 9

Sin is the problem. Violating law is what brings about the imputation of sin. The devil uses law to lure man to fall into sin. However, once a person turns to God through Jesus Christ, he is brought into the light, his eyes are opened, and he can see. In God there is no darkness, one who is in Christ is also, therefore, no longer in darkness.

As noted, this theme follows from the earliest pages of the Bible to the very last pages. It literally permeates Scripture. As for those who are so turned, Paul continues, saying, “They received forgiveness of sins.”

Some translations make this clause subjunctive, “that they may receive.” Others make it a cause-and-effect type of thing, “for their receiving.” However, the verb is aorist. They have had their eyes opened, they have been brought into the light, and they have moved from the authority of the devil to that of God. Hence, they have received forgiveness of sins. With that, it next says, “and a lot.”

In the opening of the eyes and the turning to God from Satan, there is then forgiveness of sins. In turn, there is then a lot, meaning an inheritance, for them. An inheritance is something granted by another. In the case of those who come to Christ, it means salvation, eternal life, and a heavenly hope. This is all to be obtained by simple faith in Christ’s complete work. Paul explains this in Ephesians 1 –

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14

This lot, or inheritance, is next said to be “among those having been sanctified.” It is as sure of a pronouncement of eternal salvation as any found in Scripture. The verb is a perfect participle, an accomplished fact wrought by the act of faith.

A perfect participle indicates something that occurred in the past and which has continuing results at the time it is being referred to. As this is a statement of fact, it is something that can be conveyed at any time into the future. It thus speaks of eternal salvation. Understanding this, Paul then notes what brought this about, meaning how it was appropriated, saying, “the faith in Me.”

That is wholly consistent with his words of Ephesians 1 noted above. Those who have believed are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. God Himself seals that person as an absolute guarantee. It is something to be collected by the one to whom the guarantee is given. God has promised and it will come to pass.

This is what Paul was called to do. He was to go out into the Gentile world, even with the knowledge that harm would face him. He had a mission and a calling which was under the authority of God through Christ.

As this was so, then his mission could not be thwarted by any power on earth. The fact that he was standing there on trial then could only be considered a part of the plan in which he was called to participate. Either these words concerning Paul are true, or they are not. If they are, then all of the fighting against Paul’s doctrine by so many in the modern world is simply a fight against the Lord Himself.

Life application: When properly considered, the words of this verse, which are perfectly in accord with the rest of Scripture, clear up a lot of really bad doctrine. They show that the law has no part in one’s salvation. No works are required to be saved or to continue to be saved.

They show that all people are separated from God when they do not have Jesus Christ. Either one is under the authority of the devil, or he belongs to God because of Christ. The words also tell us (based on the previous verses) that one must be presented with the gospel and a response must be made, believing what was heard.

Once belief occurs, the person is saved, eternally. These and other points of doctrine are clearly presented in what Paul has said in just a few words to those who listened to him. It is our duty to consider what Scripture is telling us and to accept it at face value. People need Jesus. Without him, they are lost.

Does this affect you or move your soul? You may be the only person who will ever have the opportunity to clearly explain the gospel to them. Be about it while you can. Tomorrow may be too late.

Lord God, Your gospel is clearly presented in Scripture so that we can know what to tell others. Help us to convey the life-changing message clearly and responsibly to those we come in contact with. May we be willing to do this so that they can have the same hope of eternal life that we now possess. Amen.