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Acts 26

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

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:

Especially 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.

My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

Unto 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.

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

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 voice against them.

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.

Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

At 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.

And 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.

And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

But 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;

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

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.

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

But 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.

For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

Having 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:

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.

And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

For 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.

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

And 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.

And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

What does Acts 26:20 mean?

Explanation

Acts 26:20 is part of the apostle Paul's defense before King Agrippa where he recounts his conversion and subsequent ministry.

In this verse, Paul summarizes his preaching message: people must repent and turn to God, demonstrating their repentance by their deeds.

The verse details the geographic progression of his ministry, starting in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout Judea, and finally to the Gentiles (non-Jews).

The literal meaning is clear: Paul's mission was to bring people from different backgrounds to a recognition of their sin, prompting them to change their minds (repentance), turn to serve God, and confirm their transformation through their actions.

The deeper implication is that repentance isn't just a one-time act of contrition but a life-changing process that involves ongoing evidence through one's behavior.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts is the fifth book of the New Testament and was written by Luke as a continuation of his Gospel. It chronicles the history of the early Church and the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome.

The verse in question occurs during Paul's trial before King Agrippa around A.D. 60. Paul, a Jew who had converted to Christianity, had been spreading the Christian message across the eastern Mediterranean and was arrested by Jewish leaders for allegedly teaching against the Law of Moses.

The spreading of the Gospel to the Gentiles was a significant development in early Christianity and a source of tension within the Jewish community, as it indicated a shift from a Jewish-centric religious movement to a global faith.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Paul's emphasis on repentance and turning to God echoes the message of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ.

It signifies the importance of not just believing in God but also actively turning away from sin and proving one's faith by works.

This echoes the idea found throughout the New Testament that faith without works is dead (James 2:26).

Different Christian denominations vary in their interpretation of the necessity and role of works in salvation.

Protestant theology generally maintains that salvation is by faith alone, but true faith inevitably results in good works.

Catholic and Orthodox teachings stress the importance of both faith and works in the process of justification and sanctification.

Practical Applications

This verse challenges individuals to consider their lives and to reflect on whether they genuinely demonstrate repentance.

It suggests that believers should not only profess faith with their words but also exhibit it through their actions.

In daily life, individuals can apply this teaching by engaging in self-reflection, seeking to improve character flaws, help others, and act morally and ethically.

It also calls for believers to be evangelistic in nature, as Paul was, by sharing the message of repentance and faith with others, regardless of their background.

Cross-References

Luke 13:3: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
James 2:18: "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."
Matthew 3:8: "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:"
Acts 20:21: "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."

Language Study

Within Acts 26:20, key words to examine in the original Greek are:

"Repent" (μετανοέω, metanoeō): To change one's mind or purpose, with the implication of turning from sin.
"Turn to" (ἐπιστρέφω, epistrephō): To turn towards, implying a conscious decision to face and align with God.
"Works" (ἔργα, erga): Deeds or actions, pointing to tangible evidence of a transformed life.
"Meet" (ἄξιος, axios): Worthy or fitting, emphasizing that the deeds are appropriate for and consistent with repentance.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This concept of repentance followed by transformative action is not unique to Christianity.

Many religious traditions emphasize personal change and rectification of one's ways. For example, in Judaism, teshuvah (repentance) involves both turning away from sin and making amends. In Islam, there is also a strong emphasis on seeking forgiveness and changing one's behavior.

Culturally, stories of transformation and redemption resonate across various mythologies and religions, as they reflect a profound human desire for second chances and personal growth.

Scientific Perspectives

Science doesn't directly comment on matters of faith and repentance but does study human behavior change.

Psychological models, such as the transtheoretical model of change, detail processes that parallel repentance and turning to different life choices, such as precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.

From a neuroscience perspective, actual behavioral change following repentance may be supported by neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to form and reorganize synaptic connections in response to learning or experience.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars offer various insights on this verse:

John Gill comments on the significance of the order of the areas that Paul visited, reflecting the progression of the Gospel from Jews to Gentiles.
Matthew Henry emphasizes the condition of the heart in repentance and the necessary evidence of a changed life.
The Pulpit Commentary discusses the logistical and doctrinal challenges Paul faced during his ministry and the call to practical holiness.
William Barclay notes the universality of Paul's message and his role in transforming Christianity from a Jewish sect to a world religion.

Acts 26

Acts 26

What does Acts 26:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 26:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?