Acts 26

King James Version

Full text for Acts Chapter 26

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

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 expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

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

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

7Unto which [promise] our twelve tribes, instantly serving [God] day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

8Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

9I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

17‹Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,›

18‹To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.›

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

20But 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 meet for repentance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

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

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

Paul begins his defense before King Agrippa by expressing happiness to speak before one knowledgeable in Jewish customs, recounting his early life as a strict Pharisee. He details his fervent persecution of Christians, imprisoning and condemning them, even compelling them to blaspheme. Paul then vividly describes his encounter with a heavenly light and the voice of Jesus on the road to Damascus, where he was commissioned to be a witness to both Jews and Gentiles. This divine mandate was to open their eyes, turn them from darkness to light, and grant them forgiveness of sins through faith. He explains that his subsequent preaching of repentance and the resurrection of Christ, as foretold by the prophets, is the sole reason for his present accusation. Festus interjects, accusing Paul of madness, but Paul calmly affirms he speaks words of truth and soberness, appealing to Agrippa's belief in the prophets.

Long Summary

King Agrippa grants Paul permission to speak, and Paul begins his defense, expressing gratitude to address one so expert in Jewish matters. He recounts his early life in Jerusalem as a strict Pharisee, known to all Jews for his adherence to the "most straitest sect" of their religion. Paul then confesses his former zeal in persecuting followers of Jesus of Nazareth, imprisoning many saints with authority from the chief priests, and even consenting to their deaths. He describes how he relentlessly punished believers in synagogues and pursued them to foreign cities, compelling them to blaspheme. However, on a journey to Damascus with official commission, Paul experienced a blinding light from heaven and heard the voice of Jesus, who identified Himself as the one Paul was persecuting. Jesus then commissioned Paul to be a minister and witness, delivering him from both Jews and Gentiles, to whom he was being sent. His mission was to open their eyes, turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they might receive forgiveness and an inheritance through faith. Paul declares that he was not disobedient to this heavenly vision, preaching repentance and conversion to God, first to Jews in Damascus, Jerusalem, and Judaea, and then to the Gentiles. He states that his current arrest by the Jews in the temple was precisely for these teachings, which align with the prophecies of Moses and the prophets concerning Christ's suffering, resurrection, and light to both peoples. Festus loudly declares Paul mad, but Paul maintains his sanity, asserting he speaks truth and soberness, and directly asks Agrippa if he believes the prophets. Agrippa responds, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian," to which Paul expresses a wish that all present might be as he is, save his bonds. The hearing concludes with Agrippa and Festus agreeing that Paul has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment, and could have been freed had he not appealed to Caesar.

Core Concepts

  • Paul's Pharisaic PastPaul details his former life as a strict Pharisee, zealously persecuting Christians, imprisoning them, and even consenting to their deaths, believing he was acting righteously against the name of Jesus.
  • The Damascus Road VisionPaul recounts his dramatic encounter with a heavenly light and the voice of Jesus on the road to Damascus, where he was confronted about his persecution and received a divine call.
  • Divine Commission to GentilesJesus commissions Paul to be a minister and witness, specifically to deliver a message of repentance, forgiveness, and light to both the Jewish people and the Gentiles.
  • Obedience to Heavenly VisionPaul asserts that his entire ministry, preaching repentance and the resurrection of Christ, is a direct consequence of his obedience to the heavenly vision received on the Damascus road.
  • Prophetic FulfillmentPaul emphasizes that his message is not new or revolutionary, but rather a fulfillment of what Moses and the prophets foretold concerning Christ's suffering, resurrection, and the bringing of light to all people.
  • Festus's Accusation of MadnessGovernor Festus interrupts Paul's testimony, accusing him of being "beside himself" and suggesting that "much learning doth make thee mad," to which Paul calmly refutes the charge.
  • Agrippa's Near PersuasionKing Agrippa's response, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian," highlights the impact of Paul's testimony and the king's intellectual understanding, though not necessarily full conversion.