26:23a–b

26:23 describes what Paul testified about. It is also what the prophets of the Old Testament and Moses said. Some English versions use a colon (:) at the end of 26:22 to indicate that. Other English versions use a long dash (—). Other English versions begin a new sentence here and add some words to indicate the connection. For example:

They said that the Messiah would suffer… (God’s Word)

that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead: The Greek words can be translated literally as “that the Christ would suffer that (he is) the first by resurrection of the dead.” Paul believed that Jesus was the Christ and that he suffered and was the first person that God resurrected from death and took to heaven. But the Jews disagreed. For example:

I told them how the Messiah would suffer and be the first to be raised from death, (Contemporary English Version)

26:23a

the Christ would suffer: In God’s plan, the Christ suffered while on earth. God told the prophets beforehand that he would suffer. For example:

the Christ must suffer (Revised Standard Version)

26:23b implies that the suffering here includes death. In some languages this implied information must be explicit for the correct meaning. For example:

the Messiah would have to endure suffering and die

the Christ: The word Christ means “the anointed one.” The Jews used it to refer to the special person that God had promised to send to save them from their enemies. The Hebrew word with the same meaning is written “Messiah” in English. Here Paul was trying to convince the King Agrippa that Jesus was the Christ/Messiah. See how you translated this phrase in 18:28.

suffer: Here the word suffer refers to enduring pain and death.

26:23b

and as the first to rise from the dead: This phrase in Greek is literally “if first out of a resurrection of the dead.” It indicates that since God resurrected Jesus from death first, Jesus was now able to proclaim good news (26:23c). Other ways to translate this phrase are:

and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
and that, on the basis of being the first person to be resurrected from death,

26:23c

light: This word is a metaphor. It refers to the good news about what Jesus did for all people. As a metaphor, light also implies guidance. The good news about Jesus will guide people to live right.

In some languages a literal translation would not have the correct meaning. If so, you may want to:

• Translate the metaphor as a simile. For example:

⌊his gospel which is like a⌋ light

• Translate literally and explain the meaning in a footnote. An example footnote is:

The word “light” refers to the good news about what Jesus did for all people. This “light” guides people to God.

• Explain the metaphor in your translation. For example:

the light of salvation (Good News Translation)

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

that he will save people ⌊and bring them to God⌋

You may then want to indicate the literal word here in a footnote. An example footnote is:

Literally “light.”

to our people: This phrase refers to the Jews. For example:

to the Jews (Good News Translation)

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