Acts 26

Paul Makes His Defense Before King Agrippa

1 So Agrippa said to Paul, "It is permitted for you to speak for yourself." Then Paul extended [his] hand [and] began to defend himself:

2 "Concerning all [the things] of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate [that] before you I am about to defend myself today,

3 [because] you are especially acquainted with both all the customs and controversial questions with respect to the Jews. Therefore I beg [you] to listen to me with patience.

4 "Now all the Jews know my manner of life from [my] youth, that had taken place from the beginning among my [own] people and in Jerusalem,

5 having known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that in accordance with the strictest party of our religion I lived [as] a Pharisee.

6 And now I stand here on trial on the basis of hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,

7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain as [they] earnestly serve [him] night and day. Concerning this hope I am being accused by the Jews, O king!

8 Why is it thought incredible by you [people] that God raises the dead?

9 Indeed, I myself thought it was necessary to do many [things] opposed to the name of Jesus the Nazarene,

10 which I also did in Jerusalem, and not only did I lock up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, but also [when] they were being executed, I cast [my] vote against [them].

11 And throughout all the synagogues I punished them often [and] tried to force [them] to blaspheme, and [because I] was enraged at them beyond measure, I was pursuing [them] even as far as to foreign cities.

12 In {this activity} I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and full power of the chief priests.

13 In the middle of the day along the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven, more than the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who were traveling with me.

14 And [when] we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Aramaic language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? [It is] hard for you to kick against the goads!'

15 So I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

16 But get up and stand on your feet, because for this [reason] I have appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and witness both [to the things] in which you saw me and [to the things] in which I will appear to you,

17 rescuing you from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you,

18 to open their eyes [so that they] may 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.'

19 "Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

20 but to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem and all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, I proclaimed [that they should] repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance.

21 On account of these [things] the Jews seized me in the temple [courts] [and] were attempting to kill [me].

22 Therefore I have experienced help from God until this day, [and] I stand here testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what both the prophets and Moses have said were going to happen,

23 that the Christ was to suffer [and] that [as] the first of the resurrection from the dead, he was going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles."

24 And [as] he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "You are out of your mind, Paul! [Your] great learning {is driving} you {insane}!"

25 But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking words of truth and rationality.

26 For the king knows about these [things], to whom also I am speaking freely, for I am not convinced [that] these [things] in any way have escaped his notice, because this {was} not {done} in a corner.

27 Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe."

28 But Agrippa [said] to Paul, "In a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?"

29 And Paul [replied], "I pray to God, whether in a short time or in a long time, not only you but also all those who are listening to me today may become such [people] as I also am, except for these bonds!"

30 Both the king and the governor got up, and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.

31 And [as they] were going out, they were talking to one another, saying, "This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment."

32 And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."

Acts 26 Commentary

Chapter 26

Paul's defence before Agrippa. (1-11) His conversion and preaching to the Gentiles. (12-23) Festus and Agrippa convinced of Paul's innocence. (24-32)

Verses 1-11 Christianity teaches us to give a reason of the hope that is in us, and also to give honour to whom honour is due, without flattery or fear of man. Agrippa was well versed in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, therefore could the better judge as to the controversy about Jesus being the Messiah. Surely ministers may expect, when they preach the faith of Christ, to be heard patiently. Paul professes that he still kept to all the good in which he was first educated and trained up. See here what his religion was. He was a moralist, a man of virtue, and had not learned the arts of the crafty, covetous Pharisees; he was not chargeable with any open vice and profaneness. He was sound in the faith. He always had a holy regard for the ancient promise made of God unto the fathers, and built his hope upon it. The apostle knew very well that all this would not justify him before God, yet he knew it was for his reputation among the Jews, and an argument that he was not such a man as they represented him to be. Though he counted this but loss, that he might win Christ, yet he mentioned it when it might serve to honour Christ. See here what Paul's religion is; he has not such zeal for the ceremonial law as he had in his youth; the sacrifices and offerings appointed by that, are done away by the great Sacrifice which they typified. Of the ceremonial cleansings he makes no conscience, and thinks the Levitical priesthood is done away in the priesthood of Christ; but, as to the main principles of his religion, he is as zealous as ever. Christ and heaven, are the two great doctrines of the gospel; that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. These are the matter of the promise made unto the fathers. The temple service, or continual course of religious duties, day and night, was kept up as the profession of faith in the promise of eternal life, and in expectation of it. The prospect of eternal life should engage us to be diligent and stedfast in all religious exercises. Yet the Sadducees hated Paul for preaching the resurrection; and the other Jews joined them, because he testified that Jesus was risen, and was the promised Redeemer of Israel. Many things are thought to be beyond belief, only because the infinite nature and perfections of Him that has revealed, performed, or promised them, are overlooked. Paul acknowledged, that while he continued a Pharisee, he was a bitter enemy to Christianity. This was his character and manner of life in the beginning of his time; and there was every thing to hinder his being a Christian. Those who have been most strict in their conduct before conversion, will afterwards see abundant reason for humbling themselves, even on account of things which they then thought ought to have been done.

Verses 12-23 Paul was made a Christian by Divine power; by a revelation of Christ both to him and in him; when in the full career of his sin. He was made a minister by Divine authority: the same Jesus who appeared to him in that glorious light, ordered him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. A world that sits in darkness must be enlightened; those must be brought to know the things that belong to their everlasting peace, who are yet ignorant of them. A world that lies in wickedness must be sanctified and reformed; it is not enough for them to have their eyes opened, they must have their hearts renewed; not enough to be turned from darkness to light, but they must be turned from the power of Satan unto God. All who are turned from sin to God, are not only pardoned, but have a grant of a rich inheritance. The forgiveness of sins makes way for this. None can be happy who are not holy; and to be saints in heaven we must be first saints on earth. We are made holy, and saved by faith in Christ; by which we rely upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness, and give up ourselves to him as the Lord our Ruler; by this we receive the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and eternal life. The cross of Christ was a stumbling-block to the Jews, and they were in a rage at Paul's preaching the fulfilling of the Old Testament predictions. Christ should be the first that should rise from the dead; the Head or principal One. Also, it was foretold by the prophets, that the Gentiles should be brought to the knowledge of God by the Messiah; and what in this could the Jews justly be displeased at? Thus the true convert can give a reason of his hope, and a good account of the change manifest in him. Yet for going about and calling on men thus to repent and to be converted, vast numbers have been blamed and persecuted.

Verses 24-32 It becomes us, on all occasions, to speak the words of truth and soberness, and then we need not be troubled at the unjust censures of men. Active and laborious followers of the gospel often have been despised as dreamers or madmen, for believing such doctrines and such wonderful facts; and for attesting that the same faith and diligence, and an experience like their own, are necessary to all men, whatever their rank, in order to their salvation. But apostles and prophets, and the Son of God himself, were exposed to this charge; and none need be moved thereby, when Divine grace has made them wise unto salvation. Agrippa saw a great deal of reason for Christianity. His understanding and judgment were for the time convinced, but his heart was not changed. And his conduct and temper were widely different from the humility and spirituality of the gospel. Many are almost persuaded to be religious, who are not quite persuaded; they are under strong convictions of their duty, and of the excellence of the ways of God, yet do not pursue their convictions. Paul urged that it was the concern of every one to become a true Christian; that there is grace enough in Christ for all. He expressed his full conviction of the truth of the gospel, the absolute necessity of faith in Christ in order to salvation. Such salvation from such bondage, the gospel of Christ offers to the Gentiles; to a lost world. Yet it is with much difficulty that any person can be persuaded he needs a work of grace on his heart, like that which was needful for the conversion of the Gentiles. Let us beware of fatal hesitation in our own conduct; and recollect how far the being almost persuaded to be a Christian, is from being altogether such a one as every true believer is.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [b]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("extended") has been translated as a finite verb
• [c]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here ("began to defend himself")
• [d]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("are") which is understood as causal
• [e]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [f]. Or "nation"
• [g]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [h]. *Here "people" is supplied in the translation to indicate that the pronoun ("you") is plural
• [i]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("were being executed")
• [j]. Literally "voting pebble," but here "vote" rather than "voting pebble" is used in the translation to avoid the idea that this small stone was actually thrown at the accused (it was used as a method of voting)
• [k]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [l]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("punished") has been translated as a finite verb
• [m]. *The imperfect tense has been translated as conative here ("tried to force")
• [n]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [o]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("was enraged") which is understood as causal
• [p]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [q]. Literally "which"
• [r]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("had ... fallen")
• [s]. Some manuscripts have "while I was in"
• [t]. *Here "[courts]" is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
• [u]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("seized") has been translated as a finite verb
• [v]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [w]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("have experienced") has been translated as a finite verb
• [x]. Or "Messiah"
• [y]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("was saying ... in his defense")
• [z]. *Literally "the"; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
• [aa]. Literally "is turning"
• [ab]. Literally "to madness"
• [ac]. Some manuscripts have "that any of these [things] in any way has escaped"
• [ad]. Literally "is"
• [ae]. Literally "having been done"
• [af]. Or "In a short time you are persuading me to become a Christian"
• [ag]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("were going out")