The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 26
Chapter XXVI · Vol. IV, pp. 307–309
Paul, in the presence of Agrippa, declareth his life from his childhood, 12 and how miraculously he was converted, and called to his apostleship. 24 Festus chargeth him to be mad, whereunto he answereth modestly. 28 Agrippa is almost persuaded to be a Christian. 31 The whole company pronounce him innocent.
1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, aThou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretchedb forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2 I 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:
3 Especiallyc because I know thee to be 1expert2 in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to dhear me patiently.
A.M. cir. 4067. A.D. cir. 63.
c ch.25.26.
1 Gr. a knower, De.17.13-20. 1 Co.13.7.
2 Herod Agrippa, the father of this king Agrippa, was a zealous Jew, and cruel persecutor of the Christians (ch.12.1-4), and would, no doubt, train up his son in his own principles. Besides, this Agrippa now held, by permission of the Roman emperor, the direction of the sacred treasury, the government of the temple, and the right of nominating the high-priest—offices that would naturally lead him to an intimate acquaintance with the Jewish 'customs and questions.'—C.
d ch.24.4.
4 Mye manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, gknow all the Jews;
e ch.22.3. 2 Ti.3.10.
g ch.22.5.
5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that hafter the most straitest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.
h ch.22.3;23.6. Ga.1.13,14. Phi.3.5,6.
6 And now I stand and am judged ifor the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:3Cited in WCF 16.3
* With great oratorical skill the apostle here connects the fundamental principles of the Pharisees with the true doctrine of the Messiah. His object is to show that as a true Pharisee he must believe the Old Testament promises, and believing them he must believe in Jesus.—P. By 'the hope of the promise' some understand the hope of the resurrection of the dead; but as Messiah, and not the resurrection, was the great object of revelation and promise, it seems more natural to understand the apostle as speaking of 'the hope' of a Saviour first, and of the resurrection to life and glory through him.—C.
i ch.23.6; 24.15; 28.20; ver.8. Ge.3.15; 12.3; 22.18; 26.4; 49.10. De.18.15. 2 Sa.7.12. Ps.132.11. Is.4.2; 11.1; 7.14; 9.6,7; 40.10. Je.23.5; 30.21; 33.14-16. Eze.21.27; 34.23,29; 37.24. Da.9.24,25. Mi.5.2; 7.20. Zec.6.12; 9.9; 13.1,7. Mal.3.1; 4.2, with ch.2.39; 3.26; 5.31; 13.23,26,32,46. Ga.3.13-16; 4.4. Tit.2.13.
3 See note * in first column.
7 Unto which promise our jtwelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, khope to come. For which hope's sake,4 king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.Cited in WCF 16.3
9 In verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.Cited in WLC 105
n Jn.16.2,3. 1 Co.13.11. Ro.10.2. Phi.3.6. Ga.1.13,14. 1 Ti.1.13. 1 Co.15.9. ch.7.58; 8.3,4; 9.1,14;22.4,19. Ro.10.2.
10 Which 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 voice5 against them.
† Though Paul was not a member of the council, it is most probable he held some commission in Jerusalem that demonstrated his fitness for an appointment to Damascus, ver.12, and that the 'giving of his voice' was not merely joining in the popular cry against the Christians, but giving his official testimony (such as European officers of police are often required to give in case of tumults and riots) that he had found them in Christian assemblies observing Christian ordinances, or in some way neglecting the Jewish ordinances, or undervaluing the traditions of the elders.—C.
5 See note † in first column.
11 And 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.
13 Atp mid-day, 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.
p ch.9.3-9;22.6-16.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in qthe Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
A.M. cir. 4067. A.D. cir. 63.
q ch.21.10;6.1.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.
16 Butr rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, sto make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear6 unto thee;Cited in WLC 159
r Da.10.11. Re.1.17,18.
s Mat.13.12. ch.9.15,17; 13.2-4,31; 18.9;22.10,15; 23.11. Ep.3.7. Col.1.23,25. 1 Ti.1.12. 2 Co.12.2.
6 Either personally or by special revelation of the Spirit.—C.
17 Deliveringt thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,Cited in WLC 159
18 Tou open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and vfrom the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive xforgiveness of sins, and yinheritance among them which are zsanctified by faith that is in me.Cited in WSC 31 · WLC 67, 76, 155, 159 · WCF 10.1, 20.1
u 1 Co.3.5,6. 2 Co.4.5,6. Is.35.5; 42.7; 60.1; 61.1. Lu.4.18; 1.77-79; 2.30,32. Ep.1.18;4.17;5.8,11. 1 Pe.2.9,25. Col.1.13. Jn.1.9;3.19;8.12;9.5; 12.35. 2 Co.6.14.
v Is.49.24,25. 2 Ti.2.26. 1 Jn.3.5,8;5.19.
x Ep.1.7. Col.1.14. ch.5.31;10.43;13.38,39.
y Ep.1.11. Col.1.12. ch.20.32. He.9.15. Ja.2.5;4.6. 1 Pe.1.4,13;3.9. Ro.8.17,30.
z Jn.15.3; 17.17. ch.15.9;20.21,32. 1 Co.6.11. Tit.3.5. 1 Pe.1.2. Jude 1. 1 Co.1.30. Re.21.27. Ep.2.8. He.11.6.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, aI was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
a Ga.1.16. Jn.1.2. Is.50.5. 1 Co.15.10.
20 Butb showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, cthat they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
b ch.9.19-30; xiii.-xxi. Ro.11.18-20.
c ch.13.46,47; 14.15; 17.30;20.21; 17.2,3;18.11;19.8. Mat.3.8. Tit.2.11,12. 2 Co.7.1,11.
21 For these causes dthe Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.7
d ch.21.30;23.12;9.23;25.3.
7 To kill me. Rather, as the word implies, 'to kill me with their own hands'—without law or trial, and in violation of the Roman interdict, by which they were prevented from putting any man to death (Jn. 18.31), and of the protection of Roman citizenship, which the apostle now claimed.—C.
22 Having therefore eobtained help of God, I continue unto this day, gwitnessing both to small and great, saying hnone other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:8Cited in WLC 4
e 1 Co.15.10. 2 Co.3.5,6. Phi.4.13. 2 Ti.4.17.
g ch.20.20-27.
h Lu.24.27,44,46. Jn.1.45. ch.24.14; 28.23. 1 Co.15.4.
8 The great accusation against Paul was that he had spoken against the law, and endeavoured to bring it into disgrace; his defence is at once wise and bold. Instead of opposing the law, he was doing all in his power to develop its fundamental truths and principles; instead of attempting to overthrow it, he was, in his teaching, fulfilling it to the letter. Such sentiments enunciated in the presence of a learned Jewish monarch must have produced a deep impression. They did so, as Agrippa's confession proves. Festus could not comprehend them. He, too, was impressed, but it was only with the learning, eloquence, and earnestness of Paul.—P.
23 Thati Christ should suffer, and that he should be jthe first that should rise from the dead, and should kshow light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
24 And as he thus spake for himself, lFestus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For nthe king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are 9hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, pAlmost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
p Mar.12.34;6.20. Ja.1.23,24.
29 And Paul said, qI 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 rbonds.1
q Ro.9.1-4;10.1. Col.1.28. 1 Co.7.7.
r ch.12.6;25.14; ver.32.
1 The meaning of Agrippa's words in ver. 28 has been variously interpreted. Recent critics represent them as spoken ironically, signifying, 'I am not so easily to be made a Christian of as thou supposest.' Philologically they may be so interpreted, but the meaning attached to them in the English version may also be correct. There can be no doubt, however, in what sense Paul understood them. He represents them as having been spoken in earnest, and he gives the noble reply contained in ver. 29.—P.
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man sdoeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
s 1 Sa.24.17. Lu.23.4,14. ch.23.9; 24.12,14; 25.25. 1 Pe.4.15,16; 3.10.
Notes
Ver. 14. Pricks. κέντρα may be rendered 'goads,' but more correctly 'military spurs.' The figure is taken from a horse whose 'obstinacy of temper resists the spurs' of his rider.—Note, In ch. 8?.7 it is said his fellow-travellers 'stood speechless;' here it is said, 'we were all fallen to the earth.' True; but the passages present neither difficulty nor contradiction. Either Paul, who heard and understood the words spoken, fell down first, while his companions, who merely heard the sound, stood for a time, and afterwards fell down; or they all fell down together; and his fellow-travellers, who were merely affrighted with the suddenness of the light, but not conscience-stricken by the accusation, rose first and 'stood:' while Paul, whose conscience was awakened to a deep sense of his guilt, remained prostrate upon the ground, in earnest prayer for mercy. C.
Ver. 23. That he should be the first that should rise from the dead. Now, from 2 Ki. 13.21; Mat. 9.25; Lu. 7.15; Jn. 11.41, it appears that several had risen from the dead previously to the resurrection of Jesus. How therefore may these facts be reconciled with Paul's statement? Without having recourse to the doctrine that as he was 'the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,' in the purpose of God, the prophecies, the promises, and the types—so, in like purpose, prophecy, promise, and types (see Le. 14.6, 7; 16.22), was he, the Saviour, raised from the dead—the difficulty may be solved by a more literal translation; to wit, 'that he should be chief (head over all things to the church) after his resurrection from the dead.' C.
Ver. 28. Almost thou persuadest me. Upon that fatal rock 'almost,' how many thousands have suffered shipwreck! O, my soul! why not 'altogether' persuaded? Hast thou not need of a Saviour? Is not Jesus such a Saviour as thou needest? What more evidence of his mission, grace, or power can reason suggest or demand? Halt then no longer between two opinions, but give thyself wholly to the Lord! 2 Co. 8.5. C.
Reflections.—Jesus remarkably fulfils his promise in enabling his servants to speak when brought before rulers and kings for his sake. And it is delightful to see the cause of Christ defended with all the grace and faithfulness of a Christian, and yet all the good manners of a courtier. It is a high honour to be chargeable with nothing but an avowed dependence on God's promises, and belief of his performances, relative to the resurrection of Christ, and the eternal life of believers through him, and the general judgment of all by him.—But dreadful is their enmity against Christ who think his followers deserve everything cruel and barbarous for holding the fundamental truths of the gospel. Yea, devilish is their temper who can gratify themselves by forcing them, contrary to their conscience, to blaspheme their Saviour. And very distressing is it, though candid, to call to mind such things in our conduct. Amazing is that grace which changes such monsters into distinguished saints and eminent preachers, which honours them as noted instruments in winning multitudes to Christ, and preserves and protects them long in that honourable work. And happy are those ministers that make God's Word the standard of all their ministrations, in matter, manner, and end.—Dreadful is the condition in which the gospel and Spirit of Christ find sinful men; and marvellous the change they make, the infinite and everlasting blessings they confer, and the happy end to which they conduct. Alas! that these should ever be esteemed madness! that many who hear the gospel should be no more than almost Christians, and never experience the power and pleasures of religion! But it is delightful when Christians wish better to others than to themselves, and make even those who hate their cause avow their innocence.