But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose. Here (as Alford justly remarks) the apostle appears to condense into one statement various sayings of his Lord to him in visions at different times, in order to present at one view the grandeur of the commission with which his Master had clothed him.
To make thee a minister [hupeereteen (G5257)] and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen - thus putting him on a level with those "eye-witnesses and ministers [hupeeretai (G5257 )] of the word" mentioned in Luke 1:2 .
And of those things in the which I will appear unto thee - referring to visions which he was hereafter to he favoured with (as Acts 18:9-10; Acts 22:17-21; Acts 23:11 ; 2 Corinthians 12:1, and see Galatians 1:12).