Acts 26:16

“But rise and stand upon thy feet, etc.] This, and what follows in this and the two next verses, are not in any of the former accounts; and these words are used not only because Saul was fallen to the earth, and are an encouragement to rise up, and stand corporeally, but to take heart, and be of good cheer; for though he had acted so vile and cruel a part by Christ, and his people, yet he had designs of grace, and good will to him; and this appearance was not for his destruction, but for his honour, comfort, and usefulness: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose; not to take vengeance for past offences, but for the ends hereafter mentioned: and this appearance of Christ was real,…”

“But rise, &c.--Here the apostle appears to condense into one statement various sayings of his Lord to him in visions at different times, in order to present at one view the grandeur of the commission with which his Master had clothed him [ALFORD]. a minister . . . both of these things which thou hast seen--putting him on a footing with those "eye-witnesses and ministers of the word" mentioned in Luk 1:2. and of those in which I will appear to thee--referring to visions he was thereafter to be favored with; such as Act 18:9-10; Act 22:17-21; Act 23:11; Co2 12:1-10, &c. (Gal 1:12).”

“But rise ... - The particulars mentioned in this verse and the two following are not recorded in the account of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9:0; but it is not improbable that many circumstances may have occurred which are not recorded. Paul dwells on them here at length in order particularly to show his authority for doing what he had done in preaching to the Gentiles. To make thee a minister - A minister of the gospel; a preacher of the truth. And a witness - See the notes on Acts 22:15. Which thou hast seen - On the road to Damascus; that is, of the Lord Jesus, and of the fact that he was risen from the dead. And of those things ... - Of those further manifestations of my person, purposes,…”

“rise: Act 9:6-9, Act 22:10 to make: Act 9:15, Act 9:16, Act 13:1-4, Act 22:14, Act 22:15 a minister: Act 1:17, Act 1:25, Act 6:4, Act 20:24, Act 21:19; Rom 1:5, Rom 15:16; Co2 4:1, Co2 5:18; Eph 3:7, Eph 3:8; Col 1:7, Col 1:23, Col 1:25; Th1 3:2; Ti1 1:12, Ti1 4:6; Ti2 4:5 in the: Act 18:9, Act 18:10, Act 22:17-21, Act 23:11, Act 27:23, Act 27:24; Co2 12:1-7; Gal 1:12, Gal 2:2 Acts 26:17”