Acts 26:28

With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian (en oligwi me peiqei Cristianon poihsai). The Authorized rendering is impossible: "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." En oligwi does not mean "almost." That would require oligou, par oligon, or dei oligou. It is not clear, however, precisely what en oligoi does mean. It may refer to time (in little time) or a short cut, but that does not suit well en megalwi in verse 1 Timothy 29 . Tyndale and Crammer rendered it "somewhat" (in small measure or degree). There are, alas, many "somewhat" Christians. Most likely the idea is "in (or with) small effort you are trying to persuade (peiqei, conative present active indicative) me in order to make me a Christian." This takes the infinitive poihsai to be purpose (Page renders it by "so as") and thus avoids trying to make poihsai like genesqai (become). The aorist is punctiliar action for single act, not "perfect." The tone of Agrippa is ironical, but not unpleasant. He pushes it aside with a shrug of the shoulders. The use of "Christian" is natural here as in the other two instances ( 1 Timothy 11:26 ; 1 Peter 4:16 ).