Acts 26 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Acts 26

Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa

26:1 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

9 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Paul Tells of His Conversion

12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language,¹ ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your 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, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”² 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

30 Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Footnotes

[1] 26:14 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)
[2] 26:28 Or In a short time you would persuade me to act like a Christian!

Commentary

v1-3: Paul knows that Agrippa is familiar with Jewish customs. We note that therefore he uses religious words and phrases; "I lived as a Pharisee ... my hope in what God has promised our fathers ... our twelve tribes," (v5-7) such phrases being meaningless jargon to Festus.

v4-11: Paul's past life; blameless before men, faithful to the Judaism of his day; he shared the opinions of those who now oppose him.

Paul speaks of a closeness in thinking in some issues; he relies on the same God (as in 24.21), has faith in the resurrection. But he speaks also of the damage he has done to the church.

v12-15: Paul's conversion; he refers to his vision, and the voice of Christ.

v16-18: He speaks also of his new calling to be apostle to the Gentiles. He is called to be a servant and a witness, words he uses to describe himself later; 2 Tim 1.3, 11. He remained concious of this calling throughout his life.

v19-23: A testimony to his experience since his conversion, and includes a gospel challenge to his hearers.

v24: Festus' mocking interruption. Unlike Felix (24.24), he has not had opportunity to listen to Paul much; he has certainly not heard Paul's testimony of his own experience.

Festus has known Paul for 2-3 weeks; "three days after arriving (25.1) ... after spending eight or ten days (25.6) ... a few days later (25.13)."

v25-26: Paul does not return Festus' words in kind, 1 Per 2.23; he respectfully responds. These events are "true and reasonable," the facts are well known, not secret.

v27-28: The challenge to Agrippa, and his dilemma. Paul refers not just to his familiarity with "these things," but that he believes the prophets. Yet he has a reputation among the "high ranking officers and the leading men of the city." There is, it seems, too great a cost in following Jesus Christ.

v29: Paul's desire, for great or small, that all might know Jesus Christ.

v30-32: The conclusion; Paul has done nothing worthy of death. In fact, Agrippa would set Paul free, but he has appealed to Caesar, and therefore he must go to Rome. As in 23.11, Paul is bound by his own words.

Earlier, Paul's appeal preserved his life, now in constrains him under Roman guard. Yet, his journey to Rome has begun.