Acts 26:23

Tyndale New Testament

that Christ shulde suffre and that he shuld be the fyrst that shulde ryse from deeth and shuld shewe lyght vnto the people and the gentyls.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
They said that the Messiah would die and be the first to rise from death. They said that he would bring the light of God's saving truth to the Jewish people and to the non-Jewish people."

Revised Standard Version
that the Christ must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles."

Hebrew Names Version
how the Messiah must suffer, and how he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to these people and to the Goyim."

International Standard Version
that the Christ[fn] would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead and would announce light to our people and the Gentiles."Luke 2:32; 1 Corinthians 15:20; Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:5;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
as to whether the Christ was to suffer, and whether, as first from the resurrection of the dead, He would proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

New Century Version
that the Christ would die, and as the first to rise from the dead, he would bring light to all people."

Update Bible Version
how that the Christ must suffer, [and] how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.

Webster's Bible Translation
That Christ should suffer, [and] that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the Gentiles.

English Standard Version
that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."

World English Bible
how the Christ must suffer, and how he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
That the Christ having suffered, and being the first who rose from the dead, should shew light to the people and to the Gentiles.

Weymouth's New Testament
since the Christ was to be a suffering Christ, and by coming back from the dead was then to be the first to proclaim a message of light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
if Crist is to suffre, if he is the firste of the ayenrising of deed men, that schal schewe liyt to the puple and to hethene men.

English Revised Version
how that the Christ must suffer, and how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.

Berean Standard Bible
that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles."

Contemporary English Version
I told them how the Messiah would suffer and be the first to be raised from death, so that he could bring light to his own people and to the Gentiles.

Amplified Bible
that the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) was to suffer, and that He by being the first to rise from the dead [with an incorruptible body] would proclaim light (salvation) both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

American Standard Version
how that the Christ must suffer, and how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.

Bible in Basic English
That the Christ would go through pain, and being the first to come back from the dead, would give light to the people and to the Gentiles.

Complete Jewish Bible
that the Messiah would die, and that he, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to both the People and the Goyim."

Darby Translation
[namely,] whether Christ should suffer; whether he first, through resurrection of [the] dead, should announce light both to the people and to the nations.

Etheridge Translation
that the Meshiha should suffer, and should be the chief of the resurrection from the house of the dead, and should preach light to the people and to the nations.

Murdock Translation
23 [namely,] that Messiah would suffer, and would become the first fruits of the resurrection from the dead; and that he would proclaim light to the people and to the Gentiles [fn] {namely,}

King James Version (1611)
That Christ should suffer, and that hee should be the first that should rise from the dead, & should shew light vnto the people, and to the Gentiles.

New Living Translation
that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God's light to Jews and Gentiles alike."

New Life Bible
It was that Christ must suffer and be the first to rise from the dead. He would give light to the Jews and to the other nations."

New Revised Standard
that the Messiah must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."

Geneva Bible (1587)
To wit, that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light vnto this people, and to the Gentiles.

George Lamsa Translation
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first to rise from the dead, and that he should preach light to the people and to the Gentiles.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If, to suffer, the Christ was destined, if, the first of a resurrection of the dead, he is about to carry tidings, of light, both unto the people, and unto the nations.

Douay-Rheims Bible
That Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should shew light to the people and to the Gentiles.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
That Christe shoulde suffer, and that he shoulde be the first that shoulde ryse from the dead, and shoulde shewe lyght vnto the people, and to the gentiles.

Good News Translation
that the Messiah must suffer and be the first one to rise from death, to announce the light of salvation to the Jews and to the Gentiles."

Christian Standard Bible®
that the Messiah must suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

King James Version
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

Lexham English Bible
that the Christ was to suffer and that as the first of the resurrection from the dead, he was going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles."

Literal Translation
whether Christ was liable to suffer, whether first by a resurrection of the dead He was going to proclaim light to the people and to the nations.

Young's Literal Translation
that the Christ is to suffer, whether first by a rising from the dead, he is about to proclaim light to the people and to the nations.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
that Christ shulde suffre, and be the first of the resurreccion from the deed, and shew light vnto the people, and to the Heythen.

Mace New Testament (1729)
that he should be the first that was to rise from the dead: and that he should enlighten both the Jews and the Gentiles."

New English Translation
that the Christ was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."

New King James Version
that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

Simplified Cowboy Version
They all said the Top Hand would suffer greatly and then be the first one raised from the dead. And this resurrection was God's way of showing Jews and mavericks his love."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

Legacy Standard Bible
that the Christ was to suffer, and that as first of the resurrection from the dead, He was going to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."

Contextual Overview

¹² About the which thinges as I went to Damasco with auctorite and licence of the hye Prestes ¹³ even at myddaye (o kynge) I sawe in ye waye a lyght from heven above the brightnes of the sunne shyne rounde about me and them which iorneyed with me. ¹⁴ When we were all fallen to the erth I hearde a voyce speakynge vnto me and sayinge in ye Hebrue tonge: Saul Saul why persecutest thou me? It is harde for the to kicke agaynste the pricke. ¹⁵ And I sayde: Who arte thou lorde? And he sayde I am Iesus whom thou persecutest. ¹⁶ But ryse and stond vp on thy fete. For I have apered vnto the for this purpose to make the a minister and a witnes both of tho thinges which thou hast sene and of tho thinges in the which I will appere vnto the ¹⁷ delyverynge the from the people and from ye gentyls vnto which nowe I sende the ¹⁸ to open their eyes that they myght turne from darcknes vnto lyght and from the power of Satan vnto God that they maye receave forgevenes of synnes and inheritauce amonge the which are sanctified by fayth in me. ¹⁹ Wherfore kynge Agrippa I was not disobedient vnto the hevenly vision: ²⁰ but shewed fyrst vnto them of Damasco and at Ierusalem and thorow out all the costes of Iewry and to the gentyls that they shuld repent and turne to God and do the ryght workes of repentaunce. ²¹ For this cause the Iewes caught me in the temple and went about to kyll me.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Christ: Genesis 3:15, Psalms 22:1 - Psalms 69:36, Isaiah 53:1-12, Daniel 9:24-26, Zechariah 12:10, Zechariah 13:7, Luke 18:31-33, Luke 24:26, Luke 24:46, 1 Corinthians 15:3

the first: Acts 26:8, Acts 2:23-32, Acts 13:34, Psalms 16:8-11, Isaiah 53:10-12, Matthew 27:53, John 10:18, John 11:25, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, Colossians 1:18, Revelation 1:5

and should: Acts 26:18, Luke 2:32

Reciprocal: Isaiah 42:6 - a light Isaiah 62:2 - the Gentiles Matthew 26:24 - Son of man goeth Luke 22:22 - truly John 1:4 - the life John 5:39 - they which John 8:12 - I am John 9:5 - long Acts 3:18 - those Acts 4:2 - preached Acts 8:25 - when they had Acts 8:35 - began Acts 13:27 - they have Acts 13:47 - I have Acts 17:18 - Jesus Acts 18:28 - convinced Acts 19:8 - went Acts 20:27 - I have Acts 25:19 - which Acts 26:27 - believest Acts 28:23 - he expounded Romans 16:26 - and by 1 Corinthians 15:4 - according 1 Peter 1:11 - the glory

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That Christ should suffer,.... Great afflictions in soul and body, and death itself; this is recorded by Moses, Genesis 3:15 and is the sense of many of the types, as of the passover, brazen serpent, c. and of all the sacrifices which from God were appointed by him, and is the constant account of all the prophets from the beginning to the end see Psalms 22:1 Daniel 9:26. The sufferer is Christ, or the Messiah, not the Father, nor the Spirit, but the Word, or Son of God, and not in his divine nature, which was incapable of suffering, but in his human nature; though sufferings may be ascribed to his whole person, both natures being united in him: and hence they became efficacious to answer the purposes for which they were endured; and which he endured, not for himself, nor for angels, but for chosen men, sinners, and ungodly persons; in order to make peace and reconciliation for them, procure the pardon of their sins, obtain eternal redemption for them, deliver them from all evil, and from all enemies, and bring them nigh to God: and what he suffered were no other than what had been foretold in the writings of the Old Testament, which all along represent the Messiah as a suffering one; and in particular that he should suffer in his character, be reproached, and accounted a worm, and no man, Isaiah 53:3 and in his soul and body, and be put to death and buried, as the above prophecies referred to show; the several circumstances leading on to, or attending his sufferings and death, are distinctly expressed; as the betraying him by one of his disciples, selling him for thirty pieces of silver, his being forsaken by all his disciples, his crucifixion between two thieves, the parting of his garments, giving him gall and vinegar to drink, and the piercing his side with a spear, Psalms 41:9. And to this agreed the doctrine of the apostle, who taught that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ that was to come, and that he had suffered all that Moses and the prophets did say should come upon him: but these were not the present sentiments of the Jews, who expected the Messiah to be a temporal Prince and Saviour, and to live in great outward prosperity, and for ever.

And that he should be the first that should rise from the dead: by his own power, and to an immortal life, as Jesus did; and so is the firstborn from the dead, and the first fruits of them that slept: a type of this, in the deliverance of Isaac, is recorded by Moses in

Genesis 22:12 compared with Hebrews 11:19 and the thing itself is foretold by many of the prophets, Psalms 16:10.

and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles: in his own person to the people of the Jews, and by his apostles to the Gentiles. In the writings of Moses he is spoken of as the great prophet God would raise up in Israel, to whom they should hearken; and as the Shiloh to whom the gathering of the people should be, Deuteronomy 17:15 and that he should be a light to both Jews and Gentiles, through the ministration of the Gospel, is said by the prophets, Isaiah 9:2 and these were the things which the apostle asserted in his ministry, in perfect agreement with those writings.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That Christ - That the Messiah expected by the Jews should be a suffering Messiah.

Should suffer - Should lead a painful life, and be put to death. See the notes on Acts 17:3; compare Daniel 9:27; Isaiah 53:1-12.

And that he should be the first ... - This declaration contains two points:

(1) That it was taught in the prophets that the Messiah Would rise from the dead. On this, see the proof alleged in Acts 2:24-32; Acts 13:32-37.

(2) That he would be the first that should rise. This cannot mean that the Messiah would be the first dead person who should be restored to life, for Elijah had raised the son of the Shunammite, and Jesus himself had raised Lazarus, and the widow’s son at Nain. It does not mean that he would be the first in the order of time that should rise, but first in eminence; the most distinguished, the chief, the head of those who should rise from the dead - πρῶτος ἐξ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν prōtos ex anastaseōs nekrōn. In accordance with this he is called Colossians 1:18 “the beginning, the first-born from the dead,” having among all the dead who should be raised up the pre-eminence of primogeniture, or what pertained to the first-born. In 1 Corinthians 15:20 he is called “the first fruits of them that slept. This declaration is therefore made of him by way of eminence:

1. As being chief, a prince among those raised from the dead;
2. As being raised by his own power John 10:18;
3. As, by his rising, securing a dominion over death and the grave 1 Corinthians 15:25-26; and,
4. As bringing, by his rising, life and immortality to light. He rose to return to death no more. And he thus secured an ascendency over death and the grave, and was thus, by way of eminence, first among those raised from the dead.

And should show light unto the people - To the Jews. Would be their instructor and prophet. This Moses had predicted, Deuteronomy 18:15.

And to the Gentiles - This had often been foretold by the prophets, and particularly by Isaiah, Isaiah 9:1-2; compare Matthew 4:14-16; Isaiah 11:10; Isaiah 42:1, Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 54:3; Isaiah 60:3, Isaiah 60:5,Isaiah 60:11; Isaiah 61:6; Isaiah 62:2; Isaiah 66:12.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 26:23. That Christ should suffer — That the Christ, or Messiah, should suffer. This, though fully revealed in the prophets, the prejudices of the Jews would not permit them to receive: they expected their Messiah to be a glorious secular prince; and, to reconcile the fifty-third of Isaiah with their system, they formed the childish notion of two Messiahs-Messiah ben David, who should reign, conquer, and triumph; and Messiah ben Ephraim, who should suffer and be put to death. A distinction which has not the smallest foundation in the whole Bible.

As the apostle says he preached none other things than those which Moses and the prophets said should come, therefore he understood that both Moses and the prophets spoke of the resurrection of the dead, as well as of the passion and resurrection of Christ. If this be so, the favourite system of a learned bishop cannot be true; viz. that the doctrine of the immortality of the soul was unknown to the ancient Jews.

That he should be the first that should rise from the dead — That is, that he should be the first who should rise from the dead so as to die no more; and to give, in his own person, the proof of the resurrection of the human body, no more to return under the empire of death. In no other sense can Jesus Christ be said to be the first that rose again from the dead; for Elisha raised the son of the Shunammite. A dead man, put into the sepulchre of the Prophet Elisha, was restored to life as soon as he touched the prophet's bones. Christ himself had raised the widow's son at Nain; and he had also raised Lazarus, and several others. All these died again; but the human nature of our Lord was raised from the dead, and can die no more. Thus he was the first who rose again from the dead to return no more into the empire of death.

And should show light unto the people — Should give the true knowledge of the law and the prophets to the Jews; for these are meant by the term people, as in Acts 26:17. And to the Gentiles, who had no revelation, and who sat in the valley of the shadow of death: these also, through Christ, should be brought to the knowledge of the truth, and be made a glorious Church, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. That the Messiah should be the light both of the Jews and Gentiles, the prophets had clearly foretold: see Isaiah 60:1: Arise and shine, or be illuminated, for thy LIGHT is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. And again, Isaiah 49:6: I will give thee for a LIGHT to the GENTILES, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth. With such sayings as these Agrippa was well acquainted, from his education as a Jew.