1THE
ACTS
OF THE APOSTLES
WRITTEN BY
2LUKE

Acts 26

1Paul in the presence of Agrippa declareth his life from his childhood, his wonderful conversion, and call to the apostleship, and his preaching of Christ according to the scripture doctrine. 24Festus chargeth him with madness; his modest reply, and address to Agrippa, who confesseth himself almost a Christian. 30The whole company pronounce him innocent.


1THEN Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth 1the hand, and answered for himself:

1 Namely, to procure quietness and audience.

2I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

3Especially because I know thee to be 2expert in all customs and 3questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

2 Gr. art a knower, namely, as being a Jew, and instructed in the Jewish religion. This he says not to flatter Agrippa, but to move him to greater attention and docility.

3 Or, matters, controversies.

44My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

4 That is, how I have lived or behaved myself.

5Which knew me 5from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the 6most straitesta sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

5 Gr. from upwards, that is, of times passed.

6 Or, most accurate, most perfect. See Acts 22:3; 23:8.

a strict.

6And now I stand and am judged for the hopeb7of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

b Gen. 3:15; 22:18; 26:4; 49:10; Deut. 18:15; 2 Sam. 7:12; Psalm 132:11; Isa. 4:2; 7:14; 9:6; 40:10; Jer. 23:5; 33:14; Ezek. 34:23; 37:24; Dan. 9:24; Micah 7:20.

7 That is, of the fulfillment of the promise, of obtaining righteousness and salvation through the Messiah, verses 22, 23.

78Unto which promise 9our twelve tribes, 10instantly serving God day and night, 11hope to come. 12For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

8 Namely, hope, that is, the thing hoped for, or promise, that is, the thing promised.

9 Namely, the godly Jews from the twelve tribes of Israel, not only they who live in Judea, but also those who are scattered throughout the entire world, James 1:1.

10 Gr. in continuance, or in fervency.

11 Which hope is good indeed, namely in itself, but herein defective, that they still hope and expect that which is already fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

12 That is, concerning the fulfillment of which hope, etc. Wherein also the hope of the resurrection of the dead, and especially of the Messiah, is contained; which, without doubt, he had proved out of the writings of the prophets, as he does in Acts 13:33, and further, as the following discourse of Paul declares.

813Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

13 This he seems to have spoken, turning to Festus and the other Gentiles; for, Agrippa believed the prophets, verse 27, and therefore also the resurrection of the dead, verse 7.

914Ic verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

14 Namely, as the others now do, with a blind zeal without the right knowledge.

c Acts 8:3; 9:1; 22:4; 1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13; 1 Tim. 1:13.

10Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of 15the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I 16gave my voice against them.

15 That is, those who believed in Christ.

16 Gr. I brought my voice to it. Of the Greek word psephos, see Rev. 2:17.

11And I punished them 17oft in every synagogue, and 18compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

17 Namely, who remained constant in their faith.

18 That is, compelled them with tortures and threats to deny Christ, yea even to curse Him, as this was also the manner of the Gentiles in the persecution of the Christians. See Pliny Junior in Epist. ad Trajanum.

1219Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

19 What has need of explanation in this narration; see therefore the annotations on Acts 9.

13At midday, O king, I saw in the way ad light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

d Acts 9:3.

14And when 20we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the 21Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.e

20 That is, as well they who traveled with me, as I, although I remained lying down, and they, all amazed, rose up immediately, Acts 9:7.

21 From this it seems that Paul spoke not to Agrippa and Festus in Hebrew, but in Greek or Latin, as better known unto them.

e goads for driving cattle.

15And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have 22appeared 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;

22 Or, am seen of thee, of the manner of this appearance, see the annotation at Acts 9 on verse 17.

17Delivering thee 23from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

23 Namely, from the Jews, who shall persecute you.

18Tof open their 24eyes, and to turn them 25from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and 26inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

f Isa. 60:1.

24 That is, their understanding, namely, by the preaching of my Gospel.

25 That is, from natural blindness and worldly ignorance unto the right and true knowledge of God unto eternal salvation.

26 Gr. a lot; because many times inheritances are divided by lot.

19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

20Butg shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works 27meet for repentance.

g Acts 9:19, 28; 22:17, 21.

27 See the exposition of this on Mat. 3:8.

21For these causes the Jews caught me inh the temple, and went about to kill me.

h Acts 21:30.

22Having therefore obtained help of God, I 28continue unto this day, witnessing both to 29small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

28 That is, I am yet preserved alive, and am not therefore become more slothful in preaching the Gospel.

29 That is, every one of whatsoever state and condition he be.

23That Christ should suffer, and that he should be 30the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew 31light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

30 Namely, to live eternally; for, some, who were risen before, died again. Paul here, however, has respect not only to the order, but especially to the power of Christ, as of the Head, whereby the faithful, as His members, shall also arise to eternal life in due time. See 1 Cor. 15:22, 23; Col. 1:18.

31 See, verse 18.

24And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, 32thou art beside thyself; 33much learning 34doth make thee mad.

32 Namely, as persons who are vain of reflections by studying too much. The natural man judges as such of the wisdom of God, 1 Cor. 1:23 and 2:14.

33 Gr. the many letters.

34 Gr. turns thee about.

25But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and 35soberness.

35 Or, of a temperate and sober understanding.

26For the king knoweth of 36these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; fori this thing was not done in a corner.

36 Namely, which I have narrated of Jesus Christ, and that which was done to Him, seeing it was done openly at Jerusalem, and is known throughout all Syria.

i John 18:20.

27King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou 37believest.

37 That is, hold them for true and for the Word of God.

28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou 38persuadest me to be a Christian.

38 Or, movest.

29And Paul said, Ij wouldk to God, 39that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except 40these bonds.

j 1 Cor. 7:7.

k oh that!*

39 Gr. that both in little and in much.

40 That is, this chain, in which his hand was fastened. See Acts 12:6 and 28:16.

30And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

31And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, Thisl man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

l Acts 23:9; 25:25.

32Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, 41if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

41 This is but an evasion; for, Paul’s appeal unto Cæsar could not hinder his release, seeing they held him innocently, but they say this because they did not want to release Paul, for they wanted to avoid the Jews’ displeasure.