The big picture
Acts 26 opens in verse 1 with “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 16 with “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to…”, and closes in verse 32 with “Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not…” Repeated or prominent terms include Agrippa, king, Jews, Paul, both. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Acts · King James Version · 32Acts 26:1-8
1–8: Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then…
Acts 26:1–8 opens with “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth…” and reaches “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Acts 26 develops its own movement around Agrippa, king, Jews, Paul, both, with particular weight carried by Jews, Agrippa, accused.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered…” Naming Paul and Agrippa keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech…” Naming Especially and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Acts 26:1-8
King James Version1Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2I 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:
3Especially 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.
4My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
7Unto 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.
8Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
Acts 26:9-16
9–16: I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to…
Acts 26:9–16 opens with “I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of…” and reaches “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Acts 26 develops its own movement around Agrippa, king, Jews, Paul, both, with particular weight carried by authority, chief, Jesus.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” Naming Jesus and Nazareth keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I…” The line’s distinctive content terms include blaspheme, cities, compelled. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
Acts 26:9-16
King James Version9I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10Which 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.
11And 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.
12Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13At 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.
14And 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.
15And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16But 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;
Acts 26:17-24
17–24: Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I…
Acts 26:17–24 opens with “Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,” and reaches “And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Acts 26 develops its own movement around Agrippa, king, Jews, Paul, both, with particular weight carried by Gentiles, first, light.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,” Naming Delivering and Gentiles keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:” Naming Agrippa and Whereupon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Acts 26:17-24
King James Version17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18To 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.
19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
21For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
22Having 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:
23That 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.
24And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
Acts 26:25-32
25–32: He said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of…
Acts 26:25–32 opens with “But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.” and reaches “Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Acts 26 develops its own movement around Agrippa, king, Jews, Paul, both, with particular weight carried by Agrippa, king, believest.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.” Naming Festus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Acts 26:25-32
King James Version25But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26For 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.
27King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29And 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.
30And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
31And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Acts 26:1 begins with “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:”
Where the chapter turns
Acts 26:16 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
Acts 26:32 leaves the reader with “Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Agrippa, king, Jews, Paul, both, Festus help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Isaac respond to repeated disputes?
He relocates and digs again until a well is not contested, while later accepting a negotiated peace.
What persists from Abraham's story?
The promise, altars, wells, outsider status and the dangerous sister deception.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- doth
- does
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.