Acts 26:9

9 `I, indeed, therefore, thought with myself, that against the name of Jesus of Nazareth it behoved [me] many things to do,

Acts 26:9 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 26:9

I verily thought with myself
This seems to be a correction of himself, why he should wonder at their ignorance and unbelief, particularly with respect to Jesus being the Messiah, and his resurrection from the dead, and expostulate with them about it; when this was once his own case, it was the real sentiments of his mind, what in his conscience he believed to be right and just; namely,

that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of
Nazareth;
to him himself, to his religion, to his Gospel, and ordinances, and people; by blaspheming his name, by denying him to be the Messiah, by condemning his religion as heresy, by disputing against his doctrines, and manner of worship, and by persecuting his followers.

Acts 26:9 In-Context

7 to which our twelve tribes, intently night and day serving, do hope to come, concerning which hope I am accused, king Agrippa, by the Jews;

8 why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?

9 `I, indeed, therefore, thought with myself, that against the name of Jesus of Nazareth it behoved [me] many things to do,

10 which also I did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I in prison did shut up, from the chief priests having received the authority; they also being put to death, I gave my vote against them,

11 and in every synagogue, often punishing them, I was constraining [them] to speak evil, being also exceedingly mad against them, I was also persecuting [them] even unto strange cities.