Acts chapter 26 presents Paul’s compelling defense before King Agrippa, offering one of the most detailed and personal accounts of his conversion and calling found in the book of Acts. Given the opportunity to speak, Paul begins by expressing his respect for Agrippa’s familiarity with Jewish customs and controversies, setting a respectful tone before recounting his earlier life as a devoted Pharisee who zealously persecuted the followers of Jesus, believing he was acting in accordance with his faith and duty to God.
Paul then vividly describes his transformative encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, detailing the blinding light and the voice that called him to turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. He explains that this divine commission compelled him to preach repentance and faith to both Jews and Gentiles, fulfilling the mission given to him despite facing severe opposition and persecution. Paul emphasizes that his actions and teachings are consistent with the writings of the prophets and the hope of the resurrection, which he insists are not contrary to Jewish faith but rather its fulfillment.
As Paul continues his passionate testimony, Festus interrupts, suggesting that Paul’s teachings stem from madness, but Paul calmly refutes this claim, asserting that his words are true and reasonable. He then directly appeals to Agrippa, expressing his belief that the king recognizes the truth of the prophetic scriptures and their fulfillment in Christ. Deeply moved yet unwilling to fully accept the message, Agrippa acknowledges that Paul has committed no crime worthy of imprisonment or death, and the chapter concludes with Festus, Agrippa, and others affirming that Paul could have been set free had he not appealed to Caesar, further advancing his ultimate journey toward Rome.
Chapter 26 (BBE)
1 And Agrippa said to Paul, You may put your cause before us. Then Paul, stretching out his hand, made his answer, saying:
2 In my opinion I am happy, King Agrippa, to be able to give my answer before you today to all these things which the Jews say against me:
3 The more so, because you are expert in all questions to do with the Jews and their ways: so I make my request to you to give me a hearing to the end.
4 All the Jews have knowledge of my way of life from my early years, as it was from the start among my nation, and at Jerusalem;
5 And they are able to say, if they would give witness, that I was living as a Pharisee, in that division of our religion which is most regular in the keeping of the law.
6 And now I am here to be judged because of the hope given by God’s word to our fathers;
7 For the effecting of which our twelve tribes have been working and waiting night and day with all their hearts. And in connection with this hope I am attacked by the Jews, O king!
8 Why, in your opinion, is it outside belief for God to make the dead come to life again?
9 For I, truly, was of the opinion that it was right for me to do a number of things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 And this I did in Jerusalem: and numbers of the saints I put in prison, having had authority given to me from the chief priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my decision against them.
11 And I gave them punishment frequently, in all the Synagogues, forcing them to say things against God; and burning with passion against them, I went after them even into far-away towns.
12 Then, when I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and orders of the chief priests,
13 In the middle of the day, on the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round me and those who were journeying with me.
14 And when we had all gone down on the earth, a voice came to me, saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me so cruelly? It is hard for you to go against the impulse which is driving you.
15 And I said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are attacking.
16 But get up on your feet: for I have come to you for this purpose, to make you a servant and a witness of the things in which you have seen me, and of those in which you will see me;
17 And I will keep you safe from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you,
18 To make their eyes open, turning them from the dark to the light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may have forgiveness of sins and a heritage among those who are made holy by faith in me.
19 So, then, King Agrippa, I did not go against the vision from heaven;
20 But I went about, first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, and through all the country of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, preaching a change of heart, so that they, being turned to God, might give, in their works, the fruits of a changed heart.
21 For this reason, the Jews took me in the Temple, and made an attempt to put me to death.
22 And so, by God’s help, I am here today, witnessing to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come about;
23 That the Christ would go through pain, and being the first to come back from the dead, would give light to the people and to the Gentiles.
24 And when he made his answer in these words, Festus said in a loud voice, Paul, you are off your head; your great learning has made you unbalanced.
25 Then Paul said, I am not off my head, most noble Festus, but my words are true and wise.
26 For the king has knowledge of these things, to whom I am talking freely; being certain that all this is common knowledge to him; for it has not been done in secret.
27 King Agrippa, have you faith in the prophets? I am certain that you have.
28 And Agrippa said to Paul, A little more and you will be making me a Christian.
29 And Paul said, It is my prayer to God that, in little or great measure, not only you, but all those hearing me today might be even as I am, but for these chains.
30 And the king and the ruler and Bernice and those who were seated with them got up;
31 And when they had gone away they said to one another, This man has done nothing which might give cause for death or prison.
32 And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been made free, if he had not put his cause before Caesar.
Important Verses
Acts 26:14 and 15 Paul’s account of the risen Jesus speaking to him on the road to Damascus reveals the powerful and personal nature of his conversion experience.
Acts 26:18 The description of Paul’s commission to open the eyes of both Jews and Gentiles, turning them from darkness to light, highlights the significance and scope of his calling.
Acts 26:22 and 23 Paul’s assertion that his message aligns with the writings of the prophets and the hope of the resurrection emphasizes the continuity between his teaching and Jewish faith.
Acts 26:28 King Agrippa’s response, acknowledging the persuasive nature of Paul’s testimony, reflects the powerful impact of Paul’s witness even among influential leaders.
Acts 26:31 and 32 The conclusion that Paul had committed no crime worthy of imprisonment, yet must proceed to Rome due to his appeal to Caesar, underscores the providential unfolding of his mission.
