Acts26

Paul defends himself before King Agrippa, recounting his past as a zealous Pharisee who persecuted Christians. He then describes his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, where he received a divine commission from Jesus to preach to both Jews and Gentiles. Paul asserts that his current imprisonment stems from his obedience to this heavenly vision, proclaiming nothing but what Moses and the prophets foretold.

Listen to this chapter

Paul Addresses King Agrippa

Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:

“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews,

especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.

Paul’s Life as a Pharisee

Surely all the Jews know how I have lived from the earliest days of my youth, among my own people and in Jerusalem.

They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion.

And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers,

the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to realize as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews.

Why would any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

The Persecutor’s Zeal

So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.

I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

The Damascus Road Vision

In this pursuit I was on my way to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.

About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions.

We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.

‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you.

I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’

Obedience to the Heavenly Call

So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.

For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.

But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:

that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Festus and Agrippa Respond

At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”

But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.

For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him. I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”

“Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”

The Hearing Concludes

Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them.

On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”

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

Study Notes for Acts 26

Verse 1

Paul begins his formal defense (apologia) by stretching forth his hand, a common gesture used by ancient orators to command attention and emphasize sincerity.

Verse 2

Paul expresses happiness because Agrippa is uniquely qualified to judge the case, being deeply familiar with Jewish customs and theological disputes.

Verse 3

Agrippa II, the last of the Herodian line, was an expert in Jewish affairs, including the management of the Temple and the appointment of the High Priest. Paul leverages this knowledge immediately.

Verse 4

Paul establishes his impeccable Jewish credentials and history, demonstrating that his current actions are not a departure from the Law, but a fulfillment of it.

Verse 5

Paul stresses that he belonged to the 'most straitest sect' (the strictest), the Pharisees, underscoring his rigorous commitment to traditional Jewish piety before his conversion.

Verse 6

Paul reframes the accusation: he is not on trial for treason or heresy, but for holding the hope of the promise made to the patriarchs—namely, the resurrection of the dead.

Verse 7

The 'twelve tribes' refers to the unified Israel, whose ultimate hope was the final resurrection and the establishment of the Messianic kingdom. Paul argues his faith is the culmination of this national hope.

Verse 8

This rhetorical question challenges the audience's skepticism regarding the resurrection, the key event validating Jesus as the Messiah and the foundation of the Christian message.

Verse 9

Paul openly admits his former zealous opposition to Jesus, confirming that his change of allegiance could only be explained by a powerful, external intervention.

Verse 10

The phrase 'I gave my voice against them' likely means Paul supported the executions, either by voting as a member of the Sanhedrin or by acting as an official witness in a capital case.

Verse 11

Paul’s attempt to compel Christians to 'blaspheme' (renounce Christ) demonstrates the intensity of his persecution and the pressure placed upon early believers.

Verse 12

Paul begins the detailed account of his conversion, emphasizing that he was acting under official religious authority when the divine intervention occurred.

Verse 13

The timing ('at midday') and intensity ('above the brightness of the sun') emphasize the objective, undeniable nature of the revelation, ruling out hallucination.

Verse 14

The phrase 'kick against the pricks' is a Greek proverb meaning it is painful and pointless to resist a superior force (like an ox resisting the goad). This detail is unique to this account of the conversion.

Verse 16

Paul receives his commission directly from the resurrected Christ to be a 'minister' (servant) and a 'witness' (testifier) of these divine truths.

Verse 17

Paul’s mission would be dangerous, requiring divine protection from both his own people (the Jews) and the Gentiles.

Verse 18

This verse provides a concise summary of the gospel's transformative power: spiritual illumination, conversion from the domain of Satan to God, forgiveness, and eternal inheritance through faith.

Verse 19

Paul asserts that his subsequent ministry, which led to his current imprisonment, was simply an act of obedience to the clear, divine command he received.

Verse 20

The message Paul preached was consistent everywhere: repentance (a change of mind), turning to God, and demonstrating that conversion through 'works meet for repentance' (Acts 20:21).

Verse 21

Paul concludes his defense by showing the logical connection: his current situation is a direct result of preaching the resurrection and the inclusion of the Gentiles, not any legal crime.

Verse 22

Paul emphasizes the continuity of his message, asserting that he teaches nothing new, but only that which Moses and the Prophets foretold concerning the Messiah.

Verse 23

Paul summarizes the three essential prophetic points: the Messiah must suffer (death), rise first from the dead (as pioneer of the resurrection), and bring spiritual light to both Israel and the Gentiles.

Verse 24

Festus, a pragmatic Roman administrator, views Paul’s emphasis on resurrection and prophecy as evidence of mental instability caused by excessive philosophical or theological study.

Verse 25

Paul defends his sanity by appealing to the objective nature of his message, characterized by 'truth and soberness' (sound judgment).

Verse 26

Paul appeals to Agrippa's knowledge, noting that the events surrounding Jesus' life and the rise of Christianity were not obscure cult activities but publicly known history ('this thing was not done in a corner').

Verse 27

Paul turns from defense to direct evangelism, forcing Agrippa to acknowledge the authority of the Hebrew Scriptures, which Paul has demonstrated are fulfilled in Christ.

Verse 28

Agrippa’s reply is a famed moment of tension; it may be an admission of conviction, or a sarcastic dismissal: 'Are you trying to convince me to become a Christian so quickly?'

Verse 29

Paul’s response is a profound expression of apostolic desire, wishing salvation upon all listeners, contrasting his spiritual liberty with his physical imprisonment (except these bonds).

Verse 31

The private consultation confirms Paul’s innocence of any crime worthy of death or imprisonment, reinforcing Luke’s theme of Paul’s unjust detention.

Verse 32

Agrippa acknowledges that Paul could have been immediately released, but his appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:11) has transferred jurisdiction, necessitating his journey to Rome.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

Acts26

Paul Addresses King Agrippa

Paul’s Life as a Pharisee

The Persecutor’s Zeal

The Damascus Road Vision

Obedience to the Heavenly Call

Festus and Agrippa Respond

The Hearing Concludes

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options