PrevActs 26:9Next

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 26:9 mean?

Explanation

Acts 26:9 is a part of the apostle Paul's defense before King Agrippa, where he recounts his early life and his actions prior to his conversion to Christianity. Here Paul candidly admits that he was once staunchly opposed to the early Christian movement.

The phrase "I verily thought with myself," indicates that Paul was convinced he was morally and religiously correct in opposing the followers of Jesus of Nazareth.

"That I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth" reveals that Paul not only disagreed with the movement but also actively participated in actions to suppress it.

This admission underlines the radical transformation that Paul underwent following his encounter with the risen Christ, going from a persecutor of Christians to a pillar of the Church.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

This verse takes place during Paul's trial before King Agrippa.

Paul was accused by the Jewish religious leaders of teaching against the Law of Moses, the Temple, and promoting a man named Jesus, whom Paul claimed was the Messiah and risen from the dead.

At this time, Christianity was seen by many Jews as a dangerous sect that threatened the traditional Jewish faith and the status quo.

Paul’s mention of his previous actions underscores the severity of Jewish opposition to the Christian community during this period, and also serves to authenticate the sincerity and significance of his conversion.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse offers insight into themes of repentance, transformation, and the grace of God. It reflects the idea that even those who oppose God can experience redemption and a change of heart.

Moreover, it speaks to the sovereignty of God in calling and equipping leaders for the early Church.

From a Christian standpoint, it may be seen as a testament of the transformative power of an encounter with Jesus Christ.

Practical Applications

Acts 26:9 provides several practical applications:

Self-Reflection: It encourages individuals to reflect on their own beliefs and prejudices, and to consider the possibility of change.
Forgiveness: The verse is a reminder that those who have acted wrongfully (even with conviction) can be forgiven and rehabilitated.
Testimony: Like Paul, believers may use their past experiences, including their struggles and opposition to faith, as a testimony of their journey to faith.
Understanding Transformations: It may help believers to be more understanding and patient with those who are currently antagonistic towards faith, recognizing the potential for future change.

Cross-References

1 Timothy 1:13: "Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."
Philippians 3:6: "Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."
Galatians 1:13: "For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:"

Language Study

A critical phrase in this verse is "the name of Jesus of Nazareth." The original Greek word for "name" is "onoma," which can refer to more than just a literal name; it includes reputation, authority, and character.

The phrase "contrary to" comes from the Greek "enantios," which means to be opposed or against. Understanding these Greek terms helps to comprehend the extent of Paul's hostility towards the nascent Christian movement.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

At the time, Greco-Roman society had multiple religious expressions, which generally coexisted.

In contrast, the early Christian claim that Jesus was the only way to God (John 14:6) was radical and went against the pluralistic way of thinking of the time.

This exclusive claim continues to contrast with other religions, which may embrace multiple pathways to the divine or have varied conceptions of the sacred.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse itself does not directly pertain to scientific perspectives, the transformation of a strongly opposed individual to a proponent could be studied through the psychological lens of cognition and belief change.

Factors such as cognitive dissonance and intense personal experiences could be considered to understand how a person could undergo such a dramatic shift in beliefs, as Paul experienced.

Commentaries

Commentators such as Matthew Henry highlight the sincerity with which Paul believed his persecution of Christians was a service to God, which makes his conversion all the more astonishing. John Calvin notes the ignorance in Paul's zeal prior to his revelation.

Most commentators agree that Paul's radical conversion is a powerful demonstration of God's ability to transform lives and use even the most unlikely individuals for His purposes.

Acts 26

Acts 26

What does Acts 26:9 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 26:9 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?