Acts 26

“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.

“I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“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.

“My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;” Naming Jerusalem and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a…” Naming Pharisee keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

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

“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.

“Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from…” Naming Jerusalem 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.

“Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,” Naming Damascus and Whereupon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include brightness, heaven, journeyed. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul…” 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.

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

“But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a…” The line’s distinctive content terms include appear, appeared, both. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“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.

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may…” Naming Satan 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.

“But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the…” Naming Damascus and Gentiles 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.

“Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other…” Naming Having keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto…” Naming Christ and Gentiles keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth…” Naming Festus and Paul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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.

“For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“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.

“Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Naming Agrippa and Almost keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and…” Naming Paul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:” Naming Bernice keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of…” The line’s distinctive content terms include aside, bonds, death. Its relationship to verses 30 and 32 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.” Naming Agrippa and Festus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.