Acts 26

This is the final chapter of the section in the latter half of Acts that recounts Paul's imprisonment and trial in Caesarea. In chapter 25 the governor Festus brought Paul before King Agrippa and Bernice, and chapter 26 contains the defense Paul made on that occasion.

Outline

• Verses 1–3 Agrippa grants Paul permission to speak. Paul counts himself fortunate to make his defense before a king well acquainted with Jewish customs.
• Verses 4–8 Paul states that from his youth he lived as a Pharisee. He says he stands accused because of the promise made to the fathers and the hope of the resurrection of the dead.
• Verses 9–11 He confesses that he opposed the name of Jesus, shut up the saints in prison, gave his voice against them when they were put to death, and persecuted them even in foreign cities.
• Verses 12–18 He relates how, at midday on the road to Damascus, he met Jesus in a light brighter than the sun. At that time he was called to be a minister and a witness, sent to Israel and to the Gentiles.
• Verses 19–23 He says that he obeyed the vision and preached repentance, and that he was seized in the temple for doing so. He maintains that he has said nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said concerning the suffering and resurrection of Christ.
• Verses 24–29 Festus cries out, "Paul, thou art beside thyself," and Paul replies that he speaks "the words of truth and soberness." He then asks Agrippa whether he believes the prophets.
• Verses 30–32 Those who heard him say that Paul has done nothing worthy of death or of bonds. Agrippa remarks that Paul might have been set free had he not appealed to Caesar.

Key Verses

• Acts 26:18 "to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God" — a summary of the commission Paul received.
• Acts 26:28 "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" — one of three places in the New Testament where the word "Christian" appears. The other two are Acts 11:26 and 1 Peter 4:16.
• Acts 26:29 "such as I am, except these bonds" — expresses Paul's desire for all who were listening.

People and Places

• Paul — makes his defense as the accused.
• Agrippa — identified as Herod Agrippa II, son of Herod Agrippa I, who appears in chapter 12.
• Festus — governor of Judea (Felix and Festus).
• Bernice — Agrippa's sister, who was present with the king.
• Damascus — the destination of the journey on which Paul met Jesus.
• Caesar — the title used for the Roman emperor.

Points for Reflection

• Paul's conversion is narrated three times: in Acts 9, in Acts 22, and in this chapter. Ananias does not appear in this chapter, and the commission is presented as given directly by Jesus. The saying "it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" also appears only in this chapter. The differences among the three accounts are often explained as differences of emphasis suited to the audience and circumstances.
• Interpretations differ on the phrase "I gave my voice against them" in verse 10. Some read it as indicating that Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin; others take it as a figurative expression meaning that he approved of the executions.
• The King James Version renders verse 28 as "Almost thou persuadest me," and on the basis of this translation, sermons claiming that Agrippa nearly came to faith became widespread. Many modern translations render the phrase closer to "with few words," and some regard the king's words as sarcastic or evasive.
• Verse 32 picks up Paul's appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:11) and leads into the voyage to Rome in Acts 27.