Acts 26:1-18
Paul, invited to witness before king Agrippa, solemnly stretches out his arms, heavy with chains. As in Acts 22:1-30, he recounts his meeting with the Lord and the circumstances in which his service was entrusted to him. When his own eyes had been opened, he was given the responsibility of opening the eyes of the Gentiles so that they could have access by faith to light, to liberty, to the forgiveness of sins, and to the heavenly inheritance of the saints (v. 18; cf. Colossians 1:12-13).
Circumstances leading to conversion are not always the same. Peter was in his boat when he realized his sinful state. Levi was seated at his desk and Zacchaeus was up a tree when the Lord called him (Luke 5:10; Luke 5:27; Luke 19:5). The Ethiopian was converted in his chariot and the gaoler in prison at midnight (Acts 8:27; Acts 16:29 . . .). By contrast, Paul believed at mid-day while he was journeying along the road (v. 13). Can you say where and when you met the Lord Jesus? If so, do not be afraid, when the opportunity arises, of telling the story of your conversion. It is not to glorify ourselves, since we must at the same time, speak of the sorry state in which we were. It is on the contrary to exalt the sovereign grace which wanted to rescue us from it.