But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus doesn't just tell Paul to get up; he commands him to stand on his feet. This isn't just a physical command, but a divine appointment, signifying that Paul is now empowered and commissioned, not for vengeance for his past actions, but for a future of ministry and bearing witness.
But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is recounting his dramatic conversion experience to King Agrippa, emphasizing that his apostleship wasn't his idea but a divine appointment. He details how Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, knocking him down and calling him to be a witness. This verse marks the direct commission from Christ, setting the course for Paul's entire ministry to both Jews and Gentiles, a calling that would involve future revelations and significant opposition.
Imagine being knocked off your feet by an encounter so profound it changes your entire life. That's exactly what happened to Paul.
Jesus' words to Paul on the road to Damascus weren't just a reprimand for past actions; they were a divine commissioning. "I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness." Notice that Jesus uses the word 'appoint.' This wasn't a suggestion or an option; it was a deliberate selection and assignment. God doesn't just save us; He purposefully assigns us roles in His kingdom. Paul, who had actively worked against Christ, was now being called to serve Him. This shows God's incredible grace and His sovereign plan to use even the most unlikely people for His purposes.
Paul's mission wasn't just about his Damascus road experience. It was a lifelong call to testify about something ongoing.
Jesus tells Paul he will be a witness 'to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you.' This is a crucial distinction. Paul's ministry was to be rooted in his immediate experience of Christ – the blinding light, the voice, the risen Lord he now saw. But it also extended to future revelations and appearances of Christ. This means a true witness is grounded in the foundational truths they've personally encountered and continues to be shaped by ongoing encounters with God. Paul's ministry wasn't static; it was fueled by the past event and continually renewed by Christ's present and future interactions with him.
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hypērētēs · Greek Noun
One who serves, often in a position of ministry or subordination to a superior; in the New Testament, it frequently denotes a minister of the gospel.
martys · Greek Noun
One who provides testimony or evidence based on personal knowledge or experience, often used in the New Testament for those who testify to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
This pivotal moment on the road to Damascus wasn't just a personal encounter; it was the divine appointment of an apostle, laying the groundwork for Paul's extensive ministry to both Jews and Gentiles, as detailed in his subsequent journeys and imprisonments.
c. AD 33-36— this verse
Paul's Conversion on the Damascus Road
While actively persecuting Christians, Saul of Tarsus has a dramatic encounter with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus, leading to his conversion and blindness. This event marks the radical turning point in his life and ministry.
c. AD 36
Ananias' Ministry in Damascus
A disciple named Ananias is divinely instructed to lay hands on Saul, restoring his sight and filling him with the Holy Spirit. This solidifies Saul's commission and prepares him for his new role.
c. AD 37-40
Paul's Early Ministry in Arabia and Damascus
Following his conversion, Paul retreats to Arabia for a period of instruction and reflection before returning to Damascus to preach. This period allows him to internalize his new faith and calling.
c. AD 44-46
Paul's First Missionary Journey Begins
Sent out by the church in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas embark on their first major evangelistic mission, traveling through Cyprus and Asia Minor. This marks the beginning of Paul's extensive work among the Gentiles.
c. AD 50-52
Council of Jerusalem
A pivotal meeting where leaders of the early church address the issue of Gentile inclusion, affirming that salvation comes through faith in Jesus, not adherence to the Mosaic law. This decision greatly impacts Paul's ministry.
c. AD 57-59
Paul's Imprisonment in Caesarea
After his arrest in Jerusalem, Paul is imprisoned in Caesarea for two years, awaiting trial. During this time, he has opportunities to defend his faith before various Roman officials.
c. AD 60
Paul's Voyage to Rome
Paul is sent to Rome as a prisoner to appeal his case before Caesar. His journey is fraught with peril, including a shipwreck, but ultimately leads him to the heart of the Roman Empire.
Similar to Paul's commission, Isaiah hears God's call in a vision and responds with a willingness to be sent, demonstrating the Lord's initiative in appointing His messengers.
Jeremiah 1:17-19This passage shows God appointing Jeremiah as a prophet, highlighting the divine origin of his mission and the assurance of divine protection, paralleling Jesus' words to Paul about being appointed and delivered.
Matthew 28:18-20Jesus declares His authority and gives the Great Commission, commissioning His disciples as witnesses to all nations, much like Jesus is commissioning Paul here as a witness to both Jews and Gentiles.
1 Corinthians 15:1-11Paul recounts his own conversion and ministry, emphasizing that his apostleship is from Christ and that he is a witness to the resurrection, directly referencing the purpose of his appearance to him as stated in Acts 26:16.
Galatians 1:15-16Paul explains that he was set apart by God from birth and called through a revelation of Jesus Christ, echoing the divine appointment and purpose described in his encounter in Acts 26.
ellicottActs 26:16: "But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;"
(16) But rise, and stand upon thy feet. —The report of the words heard by the Apostle is much fuller than in either Acts 9:11 or Acts 22:10 , and may fairly be thought of as embodying what followed on the actual words so recorded, the substance of “the visions an…
gillActs 26:16: "But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;"
But rise and stand upon thy feet,.... 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…
Jesus doesn't just tell Paul to get up; he commands him to stand on his feet. This isn't just a physical command, but a divine appointment, signifying that Paul is now empowered and commissioned, not for vengeance for his past actions, but for a future of ministry and bearing witness.
Paul is recounting his dramatic conversion experience to King Agrippa, emphasizing that his apostleship wasn't his idea but a divine appointment. He details how Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, knocking him down and calling him to be a witness. This verse marks the direct commission from Christ, setting the course for Paul's entire ministry to both Jews and Gentiles, a calling that would involve future revelations and significant opposition.
Paul is recounting his dramatic conversion experience to King Agrippa, emphasizing that his apostleship wasn't his idea but a divine appointment. He details how Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, knocking him down and calling him to be a witness. This verse marks the direct commission from Christ, setting the course for Paul's entire ministry to both Jews and Gentiles, a calling that would involve future revelations and significant opposition.
"But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you," — Jesus doesn't just tell Paul to get up; he commands him to stand on his feet. This isn't just a physical command, but a divine appointment, signifying that Paul is now empowered and commissioned, n…
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Last reviewed October 2026