History · Chapter 26 of 28

Acts 26

Given leave to speak, Paul makes his defense before King Agrippa. He tells of his strict Pharisee upbringing and his fierce persecution of Christians, then recounts the light from heaven on the Damascus road and Jesus' commission to open Gentile eyes. Paul insists he preached only what Moses and the prophets foretold: that Christ would suffer and rise. Festus calls him mad, and Agrippa says Paul almost persuades him to be a Christian.

What happens in Acts 26

Permitted to speak, Paul stretches out his hand and gladly makes his defense before Agrippa. He describes his life as a strict Pharisee, on trial for the hope of the promise God made to the fathers, the hope of resurrection. He confesses he once raged against the name of Jesus, imprisoning and voting to execute believers. On the road to Damascus a light brighter than the sun felled him, and Jesus' voice called him to be a witness, sending him to open Gentile eyes and turn them from darkness to light for forgiveness and an inheritance.

Paul says he obeyed the heavenly vision, preaching repentance everywhere, which is why the Jews seized him. He claims only what the prophets and Moses foretold: that Christ should suffer and rise first from the dead. Festus cries that Paul is mad; Paul replies he speaks sober truth and appeals to Agrippa, who says Paul almost persuades him to be a Christian.

Acts 26 in context

This is Paul's fullest and final defense speech in Acts, delivered around AD 59 before Herod Agrippa II, Bernice, Festus, and the leading men of Caesarea. It functions less as a legal plea than as an evangelistic testimony to the powerful.

Agrippa's expertise in Jewish matters makes him an ideal hearer of Paul's claim that Jesus fulfills the prophets. The scene fulfills Jesus' word that Paul would bear his name before kings.

Main themes of Acts 26

Acts 26 (KJV)

1Then 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. 12Whereupon 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. 16But 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; 17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18To 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. 24And 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.

Verses to carry from Acts 26

“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.”Acts 26:18

“That 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.”Acts 26:23

“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”Acts 26:28

Reflection

Paul stood in chains, yet he pitied the free king before him, longing that Agrippa would know the joy he knew. Agrippa came close and turned away. Where do you stand? Almost persuaded is still outside.

The same Jesus who called Paul from darkness offers you light, forgiveness, and a place among his own. Will you cross from almost to altogether?

A prayer from Acts 26