Acts 26:16

to make[R. V.appoint] thee a minister The verb is that which in Acts 22:14 is rendered "have chosen" (R. V.appointed), and implies a deliberate selection and appointment. Saul was "a chosen vessel" (Acts 9:15).

and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen Rev. Ver."a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me," with a certain amount of MS. authority, though A.V. is well supported. St Paul dwells not unfrequently in his Epistles on his having seen Jesus. Cp. 1 Corinthians 9:1; 1 Corinthians 15:8, &c., and he makes this the ground of his independence in the Apostolic work, so that he can say he is not a whit behind any of the other Apostles.

and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee St Paul was more favoured than the rest of the Apostles, as far as we gather from the N. T. records, with visions from God to guide and comfort him at critical points in his work. Cp. Acts 18:9; Acts 23:11; and 2 Corinthians 2:2. It was specially important that Paul should have seen Jesus, so that he might bear independent witness to the truth of his resurrection.