Acts 26:20

King James Version (KJV)

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

But showed first unto them of Damascus - He appears to have preached at Damascus, and in the neighboring parts of Arabia Deserta, for about three years; and afterwards he went up to Jerusalem. See Galatians 1:17, Galatians 1:18; and see the note on Acts 9:23.

That they should repent - Be deeply humbled for their past iniquities, and turn to God as their Judge and Savior, avoiding all idolatry and all sin; and thus do works meet for repentance; that is, show by their conduct that they had contrite hearts, and that they sincerely sought salvation from God alone. For the meaning of the word repentance, see the note on Matthew 3:2.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

See Acts 9:20-23. The 20th verse contains a summary of his labors in obedience to the command of the Lord Jesus. His argument is that the Lord Jesus had from heaven commanded him to do this, and that he had done no more than to obey his injunction. The word “then” in this verse is supplied by our translators, and is not necessary to the proper explanation of the passage. It would seem from that word that he had not preached “to the Gentiles” until after he had preached “at Jerusalem and throughout all the coasts of Judea,” whereas, in fact, he had, as we have reason to believe (see the notes on Acts 9:23), before then “preached” to the Gentiles in Arabia. The statement here, in the original, is a general statement that he had preached at Damascus and at Jerusalem, and in all the coasts of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, but without specifying the exact order in which it was done.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Paul was made a Christian by Divine power; by a revelation of Christ both to him and in him; when in the full career of his sin. He was made a minister by Divine authority: the same Jesus who appeared to him in that glorious light, ordered him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. A world that sits in darkness must be enlightened; those must be brought to know the things that belong to their everlasting peace, who are yet ignorant of them. A world that lies in wickedness must be sanctified and reformed; it is not enough for them to have their eyes opened, they must have their hearts renewed; not enough to be turned from darkness to light, but they must be turned from the power of Satan unto God. All who are turned from sin to God, are not only pardoned, but have a grant of a rich inheritance. The forgiveness of sins makes way for this. None can be happy who are not holy; and to be saints in heaven we must be first saints on earth. We are made holy, and saved by faith in Christ; by which we rely upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness, and give up ourselves to him as the Lord our Ruler; by this we receive the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and eternal life. The cross of Christ was a stumbling-block to the Jews, and they were in a rage at Paul's preaching the fulfilling of the Old Testament predictions. Christ should be the first that should rise from the dead; the Head or principal One. Also, it was foretold by the prophets, that the Gentiles should be brought to the knowledge of God by the Messiah; and what in this could the Jews justly be displeased at? Thus the true convert can give a reason of his hope, and a good account of the change manifest in him. Yet for going about and calling on men thus to repent and to be converted, vast numbers have been blamed and persecuted.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

20. Shewed. Literally, “declared,” or “announced.” Paul was God’s evangelist, His herald of good news.

Them of Damascus. Paul set to work immediately, where he was at the time of his conversion, the very place where he had intended to inflict grave injury upon the church (see on ch. 9:19-22).

At Jerusalem. Paul returned to Jerusalem some three years later (Gal. 1:18). There, at the risk of his life, he witnessed with such boldness that the Jews, particularly the Hellenestic Jews (see on Acts 6:1; 14:1), were infuriated (ch. 9:29).

All the coasts. That is, all the region. Just when Paul carried on this evangelization in Judea is not clear, though it was done perhaps at the time of one of one or more of his several trips to Jerusalem (see Acts 11:29, 30; 12:25; 15:3, 4; 18:22; 21:8-15; cf. Gal. 1:22).

The Gentiles. Paul’s mission to the Gentiles began some nine or ten years later at Antioch in Syria (chs. 11:25, 26; 13:1-4).

Repent. Gr. metanoeÅÂ, “to change [one’s] mind” (see on Matt. 3:2; Acts 3:19-21).

Do works. See on Matt. 3:8. Paul is not here advocating righteousness by works, but the kind of “works” that characterize a life that has attained to righteousness by faith in Christ. He does not mean that it is possible to earn righteousness by the performance of certain deeds, but rather that true righteousness automatically produces deeds commensurate with, and that attest to, the presence of the grace of God in the life. No evangelist has ever emphasized more than Paul the glorious fact of righteousness by faith through God’s saving grace (Rom. 3:21, 22, 27; Eph. 2:5-8). But whenever Paul mentions the free gift of salvation, he also dwells, as here, upon the good works that follow (see Rom. 8:1-4). The man of faith establishes the law (Rom. 3:31), for he is “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Eph. 2:10). Whenever there is true righteousness by faith, that righteousness is evident in good works. “Faith without works is dead” (see James 2:14-24).

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Ellen G. White
The Ministry of Healing, 489-90

If we have a sense of the long-suffering of God toward us, we shall not be found judging or accusing others. When Christ was living on the earth, how surprised His associates would have been, if, after becoming acquainted with Him, they had heard Him speak one word of accusation, of fault-finding, or of impatience. Let us never forget that those who love Him are to represent Him in character. MH 489.1

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.” “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 3:9. MH 489.2

The Lord Jesus demands our acknowledgment of the rights of every man. Men's social rights, and their rights as Christians, are to be taken into consideration. All are to be treated with refinement and delicacy, as the sons and daughters of God. MH 489.3

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Ellen G. White
The Acts of the Apostles, 125

As Paul continued to appeal to his astonished hearers to “repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 26:20), he “increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.” But many hardened their hearts, refusing to respond to his message, and soon their astonishment at his conversion was changed into intense hatred like that which they had shown toward Jesus. AA 125.1

The opposition grew so fierce that Paul was not allowed to continue his labors at Damascus. A messenger from heaven bade him leave for a time, and he “went into Arabia” (Galatians 1:17), where he found a safe retreat. AA 125.2

Here, in the solitude of the desert, Paul had ample opportunity for quiet study and meditation. He calmly reviewed his past experience and made sure work of repentance. He sought God with all his heart, resting not until he knew for a certainty that his repentance was accepted and his sin pardoned. He longed for the assurance that Jesus would be with him in his coming ministry. He emptied his soul of the prejudices and traditions that had hitherto shaped his life, and received instruction from the Source of truth. Jesus communed with him and established him in the faith, bestowing upon him a rich measure of wisdom and grace. AA 125.3

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Ellen G. White
Selected Messages Book 3, 181.1

On Sabbath afternoon, many hearts were touched, and many souls were fed on the bread that cometh down from heaven. After the discourse we enjoyed a precious social meeting. The Lord came very near, and convicted souls of their great need of His grace and love. We felt the necessity of presenting Christ as a Saviour who was not afar off, but nigh at hand. When the Spirit of God begins to work upon the hearts of men, the fruit is seen in confession of sin and restitution for wrongs. All through the meetings, as the people sought to draw nearer to God, they brought forth works meet for repentance by confessing one to another where they had wronged each other by word or act.... 3SM 181.1

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