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Author: Ron Graham

Book of Acts

Acts 26:1-32
—Verse by verse

This page is a verse by verse study of Acts 26:1-32. These verses record Paul’s speech to King Agrippa at Caesarea.

Paul’s speech to King Agrippa.

Acts 26:1-32

¶“1Agrippa said to Paul, 'You are permitted to speak for yourself.' Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defence: 2'I think myself fortunate, king Agrippa, that I can defend myself before you this day regarding all the accusations the Jews make against me. 3I know you to be expert in all customs and questions common to the Jews. I therefore beg your patience in hearing me.' ” (Acts 26:1-3).

¶“4'King Agrippa, all the Jews know that my way of life, ever since my youth, was amid my own nation at Jerusalem. 5Since they have known me all this time, why don't they testify that I lived as a Pharisee, in the strictest sect of Judaism. 6Now here I am, standing trial for the hope of God’s promise to our fathers. 7Our twelve tribes, earnestly serve God day and night, in hope of attaining this promise. Yet for this very hope, king Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews! 8Why should any of you think it incredible that God should raise the dead?' ” (Acts 26:4-8).

¶“9'Now I truly thought to myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10And this is exactly what I did in Jerusalem. I imprisoned many of the holy people, having received authority from the chief priests. I voted to have these holy ones put to death. 11I punished them frequently and in every synagogue. I tried to coerce them into blasphemy. I was enraged against them, and persecuted them even in outlying cities.' ” (Acts 26:9-11).

¶“12'I was on such a journey to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests. 13At midday, O King Agrippa, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who journeyed with me. 14We had all fallen to the ground when I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' 15And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said, 'I am Jesus whom you persecute. 16But rise, and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you with the purpose of making you a minister and witness both of these things which you have seen, and of those things in which I will later appear to you. 17I will deliver you from the Jewish people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are made holy by faith in me.' ' ” (Acts 26:12-18).

¶“19'Consequently, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20I proclaimed first to the people of Damascus, and also 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 appropriate for repentance. 21For this reason some Jews laid hold of me in the temple, and attempted to kill me. 22But I obtained help from God to continue to this day, witnessing to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses predicted: 23that Christ would suffer; and be the first to rise from the dead and thereby proclaim light to both the Jewish people and the Gentiles.' (Acts 26:19-23).

¶“24As Paul was saying this in his own defence, Festus interrupted with a loud voice: 'Paul you are beside yourself; too much learning has sent you mad!' 25But Paul said, 'I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak soberly and truthfully. 26The king knows of these matters, and I speak to him frankly, for I am sure that none of these things escape his attention. After all, this thing was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.' 28Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'In a moment you will persuade me to become a Christian!' 29And Paul said, 'I would to God, that not only you, but all who have heard me this day, would in a moment, and forever, be such as I am —except of course for these chains.' ” (Acts 26:24-29).

¶“30And when Paul had said this, the king stood up, and so did the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them. 31When they had gone aside in private, they talked between themselves, saying, 'This man does nothing worthy of death or even of imprisonment.' 32Agrippa said to Festus, 'This man might have been set at liberty, if only he had not appealed to Caesar.' ” (Acts 26:30-32).

1 Paul Makes His Defense Before King Agrippa

Verses 1-3

¶ "Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defence: “I think myself fortunate, king Agrippa, that I can defend myself before you this day regarding all the accusations the Jews make against me. I know you to be expert in all customs and questions common to the Jews. I therefore beg your patience in hearing me.” " (Acts 26:1-3).

Verses 4-8

¶ "Paul continued, “King Agrippa, all the Jews know that my way of life, ever since my youth, was amid my own nation at Jerusalem. Since they have known me all this time, why don't they testify that I lived as a Pharisee, in the strictest sect of Judaism. Now here I am, standing trial for the hope of God’s promise to our fathers. Our twelve tribes, earnestly serve God day and night, in hope of attaining this promise. Yet for this very hope, king Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews! Why should any of you think it incredible that God should raise the dead?”" (Acts 26:4-8).

Verses 9-11

¶ Paul continued, "“King Agrippa, I truly thought to myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this is exactly what I did in Jerusalem. I imprisoned many of the saints, having received authority from the chief priests. I voted to have these saints put to death. I punished the saints frequently and in every synagogue. I tried to coerce them into blasphemy. I was enraged against them, and persecuted them even in outlying cities”" (Acts 26:9-11).

2 King Agrippa Hears How Paul was Converted

Verses 12-18

¶ "Paul continued, “I was on such a journey to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests. At midday, O King Agrippa, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who journeyed with me. We had all fallen to the ground when I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said, 'I am Jesus whom you persecute. But rise, and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you with the purpose of making you a minister and witness both of these things which you have seen, and of those things in which I will later appear to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are made holy by faith in me.” " (Acts 26:12-18).

Verses 19-23

¶ Paul continued, "Consequently, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. I proclaimed first to the people of Damascus, and also 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 appropriate for repentance. For this reason some Jews laid hold of me in the temple, and attempted to kill me. But I obtained help from God to continue to this day, witnessing to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses predicted: that Christ would suffer; and be the first to rise from the dead and thereby proclaim light to both the Jewish people and the Gentiles" (Acts 26:19-23).

Verses 24-29

¶ "As Paul was saying this in his own defence, Festus interrupted with a loud voice: “ Paul you are beside yourself; too much learning has sent you mad.” But Paul said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak soberly and truthfully. The king knows of these matters, and I speak to him frankly, for I am sure that none of these things escape his attention. After all, this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “In a moment you will persuade me to become a Christian!” And Paul said, “I would to God, that not only you, but all who have heard me this day, would in a moment and forever be such as I am, except of course for these chains.” " (Acts 26:24-29).

3 Paul Judged Innocent by King Agrippa

Verses 30-32

¶ "And when Paul had said this, the king stood up, and so did the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them. When they had gone aside in private, they talked between themselves, saying, “This man does nothing worthy of death or even of imprisonment.” Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set at liberty, if only he had not appealed to Caesar.”" (Acts 26:30-32).

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