Acts 26:18

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἀνοῖξαι ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν, ἐπιστρέψαι ἀπὸ σκότους εἰς φῶς, καὶ τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ Σατανᾶ ἐπὶ τὸν Θεόν, τοῦ λαβεῖν αὐτοὺς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν, καὶ κλῆρον ἐν τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις πίστει τῇ εἰς ἐμέ.

Transliteration

To anoixai ophthalmous of them, to epistrepsai from skotous to phōs, and the exousias of the Satana to the Theon, of the to labein them aphesin hamartiōn, and klēron among those having been hēgiasmenois by pistei in me.

Grammar Details

• *anoixai*: aorist active infinitive - to open
• *ophthalmous*: accusative, masculine, plural - eyes
• *epistrepsai*: aorist active infinitive - to turn
• *skotous*: genitive, neuter, singular - darkness
• *phōs*: accusative, neuter, singular - light
• *exousias*: genitive, feminine, singular - authority/power
• *Satana*: genitive, masculine, singular - Satan
• *Theon*: accusative, masculine, singular - God
• *labein*: aorist active infinitive - to receive
• *aphesin*: accusative, feminine, singular - forgiveness
• *hamartiōn*: genitive, feminine, plural - sins
• *klēron*: accusative, masculine, singular - inheritance/portion
• *hēgiasmenois*: perfect passive participle, dative, masculine, plural - having been sanctified
• *pistei*: dative, feminine, singular - faith

Word Meanings

• *anoixai*: to open/to unlock
• *ophthalmous*: eyes/sight
• *epistrepsai*: to turn/to convert/to return
• *skotous*: darkness/gloom
• *phōs*: light/radiance
• *exousias*: authority/power/dominion
• *labein*: to receive/to take/to obtain
• *aphesin*: forgiveness/remission/release
• *hamartiōn*: sins/wrongdoings
• *klēron*: inheritance/portion/lot
• *hēgiasmenois*: having been sanctified/consecrated/made holy
• *pistei*: faith/belief/trust

Referenced Verses

• Acts 20:32 : 32 And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
• 1 Pet 2:9 : 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
• Eph 1:18 : 18 – since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened– so that you can know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
• Isa 42:7 : 7 to open blind eyes, to release prisoners from dungeons, those who live in darkness from prisons.
• Eph 5:8 : 8 for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live like children of light–
• 2 Cor 4:6 : 6 For God, who said“Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.
• Isa 35:5 : 5 Then blind eyes will open, deaf ears will hear.
• Acts 2:38 : 38 Peter said to them,“Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Acts 5:31 : 31 God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
• John 8:12 : 12 Jesus as the Light of the World Then Jesus spoke out again,“I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
• Luke 1:79 : 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
• 2 Cor 4:4 : 4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.
• Acts 20:21 : 21 testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.
• Col 1:12-14 : 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 13 He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
• 1 Thess 5:4-8 : 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would. 5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness. 6 So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation.
• Acts 15:9 : 9 and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith.
• Eph 4:18 : 18 They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
• 2 Cor 6:14 : 14 Unequal Partners Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
• Luke 24:47 : 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
• Luke 1:77 : 77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.
• 1 John 1:9 : 9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.
• 1 John 2:8-9 : 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the light but still hates his fellow Christian is still in the darkness.
• 1 John 3:8 : 8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil.
• 1 John 5:19 : 19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
• Jude 1:1 : 1 ¶ Salutation From Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, wrapped in the love of God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.
• Rev 20:2-3 : 2 He seized the dragon– the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan– and tied him up for a thousand years. 3 The angel then threw him into the abyss and locked and sealed it so that he could not deceive the nations until the one thousand years were finished.(After these things he must be released for a brief period of time.)
• Rev 21:27 : 27 but nothing ritually unclean will ever enter into it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
• 1 John 2:12 : 12 Words of Reassurance I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name.
• 1 Pet 2:25 : 25 For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
• Heb 10:14 : 14 For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy.
• Heb 11:6 : 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
• Jas 2:5 : 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
• 1 Pet 1:4 : 4 that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you,
• 2 Tim 2:26 : 26 and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will.
• Titus 3:5-6 : 5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior.
• Heb 2:14-15 : 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death(that is, the devil), 15 and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.
• Heb 9:15 : 15 And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.
• Heb 10:10 : 10 By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
• Eph 5:14 : 14 For everything made visible is light, and for this reason it says:“Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!”
• Eph 2:8 : 8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;
• Gal 2:20 : 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
• Gal 3:2 : 2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?
• Gal 3:14 : 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
• Eph 1:7 : 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of his grace
• Eph 1:11 : 11 In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will
• Eph 1:14 : 14 who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
• Acts 26:23 : 23 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.”
• Rom 4:6-9 : 6 So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the one against whom the Lord will never count sin.” 9 Is this blessedness then for the circumcision or also for the uncircumcision? For we say,“faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”
• Rom 5:1-2 : 1 The Expectation of Justification Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory.
• Rom 8:17 : 17 And if children, then heirs(namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)– if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.
• 1 Cor 1:2 : 2 to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
• 1 Cor 1:30 : 30 He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
• 1 Cor 6:10-11 : 10 thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
• Acts 3:19 : 19 Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out,
• Acts 9:17-18 : 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and said,“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
• Acts 10:43 : 43 About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
• Acts 13:38-39 : 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you.
• Acts 13:47 : 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:‘I have appointed you to be a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
• John 1:4-9 : 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it. 6 A man came, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
• John 3:19 : 19 Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil.
• John 4:10 : 10 Jesus answered her,“If you had known the gift of God and who it is who said to you,‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”
• John 4:14 : 14 But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.”
• John 7:38-39 : 38 let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says,‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
• John 9:5 : 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
• John 9:39 : 39 Jesus said,]“For judgment I have come into this world, so that those who do not see may gain their sight, and the ones who see may become blind.”
• John 12:35-36 : 35 Jesus replied,“The light is with you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he went away and hid himself from them.
• John 17:17 : 17 Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth.
• Luke 2:32 : 32 a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
• Luke 4:18 : 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed,
• Luke 11:21-22 : 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are safe. 22 But when a stronger man attacks and conquers him, he takes away the first man’s armor on which the man relied and divides up his plunder.
• Luke 24:45 : 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures,
• Ps 32:1-2 : 1 By David; a well-written song. How blessed is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven, whose sin is pardoned! 2 How blessed is the one whose wrongdoing the LORD does not punish, in whose spirit there is no deceit.
• Ps 119:18 : 18 Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your law!
• Ps 146:8 : 8 The LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD lifts up all who are bent over. The LORD loves the godly.
• Isa 9:2 : 2 (9:1) The people walking in darkness see a bright light; light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness.
• Isa 29:18 : 18 At that time the deaf will be able to hear words read from a scroll, and the eyes of the blind will be able to see through deep darkness.
• Isa 32:3 : 3 Eyes will no longer be blind and ears will be attentive.
• Isa 42:16 : 16 I will lead the blind along an unfamiliar way; I will guide them down paths they have never traveled. I will turn the darkness in front of them into light, and level out the rough ground. This is what I will do for them. I will not abandon them.
• Isa 43:8 : 8 The Lord Declares His Sovereignty Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes, those who are deaf, even though they have ears!
• Isa 49:6 : 6 he says,“Is it too insignificant a task for you to be my servant, to reestablish the tribes of Jacob, and restore the remnant of Israel? I will make you a light to the nations, so you can bring my deliverance to the remote regions of the earth.”
• Isa 49:24-25 : 24 Can spoils be taken from a warrior, or captives be rescued from a conqueror? 25 Indeed,” says the LORD,“captives will be taken from a warrior; spoils will be rescued from a conqueror. I will oppose your adversary and I will rescue your children.
• Isa 53:8-9 : 8 He was led away after an unjust trial– but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded. 9 They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man’s tomb, because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully. 10 Though the LORD desired to crush him and make him ill, once restitution is made, he will see descendants and enjoy long life, and the LORD’s purpose will be accomplished through him. 11 Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done.“My servant will acquit many, for he carried their sins. 12 So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels.”
• Isa 60:1-3 : 1 Zion’s Future Splendor“Arise! Shine! For your light arrives! The splendor of the LORD shines on you! 2 For, look, darkness covers the earth and deep darkness covers the nations, but the LORD shines on you; his splendor appears over you. 3 Nations come to your light, kings to your bright light.
• Mal 4:2 : 2 But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication will rise with healing wings, and you will skip about like calves released from the stall.
• Matt 4:16 : 16 the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.”
• Matt 6:22-23 : 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!