26:19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, 1 I was not disobedient 2 to the heavenly 3 vision, 26:20 but I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, 4 and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, 5 performing deeds consistent with 6 repentance.
1 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
2 sn I was not disobedient. Paul’s defense is that he merely obeyed the risen Jesus. He was arrested for obeying heavenly direction and preaching the opportunity to turn to God.
3 tn According to L&N 1.5, “In Ac 26:19 the adjective οὐράνιος could be interpreted as being related simply to the meaning of οὐρανόςa ‘sky,’ but it seems preferable to regard οὐράνιος in this context as meaning simply ‘from heaven’ or ‘heavenly.’”
4 tn BDAG 1093-94 s.v. χώρα 2.b states, “of the provincial name (1 Macc 8:3) ἡ χώρα τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας Ac 26:20.”
5 sn That they should repent and turn to God. This is the shortest summary of Paul’s message that he preached.
6 tn BDAG 93 s.v. ἄξιος 1.b, “καρποὶ ἄ. τῆς μετανοίας fruits in keeping with your repentance…Lk 3:8; Mt 3:8. For this ἄ. τῆς μετανοίας ἔργα Ac 26:20.” Note how Paul preached the gospel offer and the issue of response together, side by side.