1.
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
unto . Greek. pros. App-104 .
Thou art permitted . Literally It is permitted thee. Greek. epitrepo . Same word as "suffer" and "give licence" (Acts 21:39 , Acts 21:40 ).
for = in behalf of. Greek. huper. App-104 .
answered, &c . = was making his defence. Greek. apologeomai. See Acts 19:33 .
2.
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:
think . Greek. hegeomai. This word has two meanings, "to lead" (Acts 15:22 ) and "hold, or reckon", as here and in nineteen subsequent passages.
happy . Greek. makarios. Occurs fifty times. Always translated "blessed", except here, John 13:17 . Romans 14:22 . 1 Corinthians 7:40 . 1Pe 3:14 ; 1 Peter 4:14 .
shall = am about to.
before . Greek. epi App-104 .
touching = concerning. Greek. peri App-104 .
accused . Greek. enkaleo. See Acts 19:38 .
of = by. Greek. hupo. App-104 .
3.
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.
because, &c . Literal. thou being an expert. Greek. gnostes. Only here. Compare gnostos (Acts 1:19 ).
customs . Greek. eth o s . See Acts 6:14 .
questions . Greek. zetema. See Acts 15:2 .
among = according to. Greek. kata. App-104 .
beseech . Greek. deomai. App-134 .
patiently . Greek. makrothumos. Only here. Figure of speech Protherapeia, App-6 .
4.
My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
manner of life. Greek. biosis. Only here. Compare App-170 .
youth . Greek. neotes. Only here; Matthew 19:20 . Mark 10:20 , Luke 18:21 . 1 Timothy 4:12 .
at the first = frorn (Greek. apo. App-104 .) the beginning (Greek. arche) . Compare note on John 8:44 .
among . Greek. en . App-104 .
nation . Greek. ethnos. Generally applied to Gentiles, but to Israel in Acts 10:22 ; Acts 24:2 , Acts 24:10 , Acts 24:17 , &c.
at = in. Greek. en . App-104 .
know . Greek. oida. App-132 .
the . Omit.
5.
Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Which knew me = Knowing me before. Greek. proginosko. App-132 .
from the beginning . Greek. anothen. See note on Luke 1:3 .
would = be willing to. Greek. thelo . App-102 .
testify . Greek. martureo. See p. 1511, and note on John 1:7 .
after = according to. Greek. kata . App-104 .
most straitest = strictest, or most precise. Greek. akribestatos. Compare the adverb akribos and the comparative adjective in Acts 18:25 , Acts 18:26 . A medical word.
sect . Greek. hairesis. See Acts 5:17 .
religion = form of worship. Greek. threskeia. Only here, Colossians 2:18 , James 1:26 , James 1:27 . Herodotus uses the word of the ceremonies of the Egyptian priests. Used also in the Papyri.
Pharisee . See App-120 .
6.
And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
judged . Greek. krino . App-122 .
for = upon (the ground of). Greek. epi . App-104 .
God . App-98 .
unto . The texts read eis . App-104 .
7.
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.
twelve tribes . Greek. dodekaphulon. Only here. This single word to denote the whole twelve tribes shows that Paul regarded them as one. To him there were no "lost" tribes as fondly imagined to-day.
instantly = in (Greek. en) intensity. Greek. ekteneia. Only here. Compare the adjective ektenes (Acts 12:5 ).
serving . Greek. latreuo. App-137 and App-190 .
come = arrive. Greek. katantao . See Acts 16:1 . For which hope's sake = On account of (Greek. peri . App-104 .) which hope.
king Agrippa . The texts omit.
Jews . The texts add, "O king".
8.
Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
should it be thought = is it judged. Greek. krino , as in Acts 26:6 .
incredible . Greek. apistos. Only occurs in Acts. Elsewhere translated "faithless", "unbelieving", &c.
that = if. App-118 .
should raise = raises. Greek. egeiro. App-178 .
the dead = dead persons. Greek. nekros. App-139 . Compare Acts 26:23 .
9.
I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10.
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.
also did = did also. He not only thought, but acted.
saints . Greek. hagios. See Acts 9:13 , Acts 9:32 , Acts 9:41 . Only in these four places in Acts applied to God's people. Frequently in the epistles. Compare Psalms 31:23 , Psalms 31:24 .
shut up . Greek. katakleio. Only here and Luke 3:20 .
authority . Greek. exousia. App-172 .
from . Greek. para . App-104 .
chief priests . Greek. archiereus, as in Acts 25:15 .
put to death . Greek. anaireo. See Acts 2:23 .
gave = cast. Greek. kataphero. See Acts 20:9 .
voice = vote. Greek. psephos. The pebble used for voting. Only here and Revelation 2:17 .
11.
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.
I punished . . . and = punishing them . . ., I. See Acts 22:5 .
in = throughout. Greek. kata. App-104 .
synagogue . App-120 .
compelled = was compelling, or constraining, as in Acts 28:19 . Greek. anankazo.
exceedingly . Greek. perissos. Only here, Matthew 27:23 .Mark 10:26 .
mad against = maddened against. Greek. emmainomai. Only here. Compare Acts 26:24 .
strange = foreign. Literally the cities outside (Greek. exo) .
12.
Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
Whereupon = In (Greek. en) which (circumstances).
went = was going.
to = unto. Greek. eis . App-104 .
commission . Greek. epitrope. Only here. Compare the verb epitrepo (Acts 26:1 ).
13.
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.
saw . Greek. eidon. App-133 .
in . Greek. kata . App-104 .
light . Greek. phos . App-130 .
from heaven . Greek. ouranothen. See Acts 14:17 .
above . Greek. huper. App-104 .
brightness . Greek. lamprotes. Only here. Compare the adjective lampros (Acts 10:30 ).
shining round about . Greek. perilampo. Only here and Luke 2:9 .
14.
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.
fallen = fallen down. Greek. katapipto. Only here and Acts 28:6 .
earth . Greek. ge . App-129 .
speaking . Greek. lalo. App-121 ., but the texts read "saying" ( lego ).
and saying . The texts omit.
Hebrew . See Acts 21:40 .
tongue = dialect. See Acts 1:19 .
Saul, Saul . Gr . Saoul, Saoul. See Acts 9:4 .
it is, &c. Figure of speech Paroemia . App-6 .
kick . Greek. laktizo. Onlyhere.
against . App-104 .
pricks = goads. Greek. kentron . Elsewhere, 1 Corinthians 15:55 , 1 Corinthians 15:56 . Revelation 9:10 .
15.
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
Lord . Greek. kurios. App-98 .
16.
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;
rise. Greek. anistemi. App-178 .:1.
stand . Greek. histemi.
have appeared unto = was seen by. Greek. horao. App-133 .
make = appoint. Greek. procheirizomai. See Acts 22:14 .
minister . Greek. huperetes. App-190 .
witness . See Acts 1:8 ; Acts 22:15 . Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6 .
appear . Greek. horao , as above.
17.
Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18.
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.
and to turn = that they may turn.
turn . Greek. epistrepho. Compare Acts 3:19 .
from . Greek. apo. App-104 . Compare Colossians 1:13 .
power = authority. Greek. exousia, as in Acts 26:10 .
forgiveness . Greek. aphesis. See Acts 2:38 ; Acts 5:31 .
sins . Greek. hamartia. App-128 .
inheritance = a part. Greek. kleros. See Acts 1:17 .
them which are, &c . = the sanctified. Greek. hagiazo. Compare Acts 20:32 . Joh 17:17 , John 17:19 .
faith Greek. pistis. App-150 .
in = towards. Greek. eis . App-104 .
19.
Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
disobedient . Gr . apeithes. Compare App-150 . Occurs elsewhere Luke 1:17 . Rom 1:30 . 2 Timothy 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:16 ; Tit 8:3 . "Not disobedient", which means emphatically "obedient", is the Figure of speech Tapeinosis. App-6 .
unto = to.
heavenly . Greek. ouranios. Only here, Matthew 6:14 , Matthew 6:26 , Matthew 6:32 ; Matthew 15:13 .Luke 2:13 .
vision . Greek. optasia . Only here, Luke 1:22 ; Luke 24:23 . 2 Corinthians 12:1 .
20.
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.
of = in. Greek. en . App-104 .
throughout . Greek. eis . App-104 .
repent . Greek. metanoeo. App-111 .
meet = worthy of, or answering to. Compare Matthew 3:8 .
repentance . Greek. metanoia. App-111 .
21.
For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
caught . Greek. sullambano. See Acts 1:16 .
temple . Greek. hieron. See Matthew 23:16 .
went about = were attempting. Greek. peiraomai. Only here.
kill . Greek. diacheirizomai. See Acts 5:30 .
22.
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:
obtained . Greek. tunchano. See Acts 19:11 ; Acts 24:2 .
help . Greek. epikouria. Only here. A medical word.
of = frorn. Greek. para . App-104 . But the texts read apo .
continue = stand. Greek. histemi. Same as Acts 26:16 . See the Structure.
unto = until. Greek. achri .
witnessing . Same word as "testify" (Acts 26:5 ).
small and great . Compare Acts 8:10 . Revelation 11:18 ; Revelation 13:16 ; Revelation 19:5 , Revelation 19:18 ; Revelation 20:12 .
none, &c. = nothing (Greek. oudeis) except the things which.
the prophets, &c . Usually "Moses and the prophets". See Acts 28:23 .Luke 16:29 , Luke 16:31 . Joh 1:45 .
prophets . See Exodus 4:16 and App-82 .
Moses . See Acts 3:22 .
did say = spake. Greek. laleo . App-121 .
23.
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.
That = If. Greek. ei. App-118 . Compare Acts 26:8 .
Christ = the Messiah. App-98 .
should suffer = is liable or destined to suffer. Greek. pathetos. Only here. Justin Martyr puts the word into the mouth of Trypho the Jew, in his dialogue, Ch. xxxvi.
that should, &c . = by (Greek. ek) a resurrection (Greek. anastasis. App-178 .) of the dead (Greek. nekron . App-139 .)
shew = proclaim. Greek. katangello. App-121 .
24.
And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
spake for himself . Same as "answer for himself", verses: Acts 26:1 , Acts 26:2 .
Festus, &c . To Festus the resurrection of dead persons was as much beyond the range of possibility as it is to myriads to-day. "Modern views" have relegated the resurrection, as the hope of the believer, to the the background.
beside thyself = mad. Greek. mainomai. See Acts 12:15 .
learning . Literally letters (Greek. gramma) . As we say "a man of letters". Compare John 7:15 .
make = turn or pervert. Greek. peritrepo . Only here. A medical word.
mad = to (Greek. eis) madness. Greek. mania. Only here.
25.
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
I am . . . mad . Greek. mainomai, as in Acts 26:24 .
most noble. See Acts 24:3 .Luke 1:3 .
speak forth . Greek. apophthengomai. See Acts 2:4 .
words . Greek. rhema. See Mark 9:32 .
soberness . Greek. sophrosune. Here and 1 Timothy 2:9 , 1 Timothy 2:15 .
26.
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.
knoweth . Greek. epistamai. App-132 .
of = conoerning. Greek. peri . App-104 .
also I speak freely = I speak, using boldness also.
speak . Greek. laleo, as in verses: Acts 26:14 , Acts 26:22 , Acts 26:31 .
freely = speaking out, or without reserve. Greek. parrhesiazomai. Occurs seven times in Acts. See Acts 9:27 , Acts 9:29 ; Acts 13:46 ; Acts 14:3 ; Acts 18:26 ; Acts 19:8 .
am persuaded . Greek. peitho. App-150 .
none . A double negative. Greek. ou ouden.
are hidden, &c . = has escaped his notice. Greek. lanthano. Only here, Mark 7:24 .Luke 8:47 . Hebrews 13:2 . 2Pe 3:5 , 2 Peter 3:8 .
27.
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
believest . Greek. pisteuo. App-150 . .
28.
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Almost . Greek. En oligo. In a little, i.e., briefly, or in short. Compare Ephesians 3:3 . Paul, carried away by his subject, ceases to be the advocate for the prisoner and has become the advocate for God. Agrippa perceives it, and intervenes with "To put it briefly, thou art persuading me to become a Christian. "There is no ground for supposing that Agrippa was "almost persuaded".
Christian . See Acts 11:26 .
29.
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.
would = could wish. Greek. euchomai. App-134 .
also all = all also.
almost, and altogether . Literally in (Greek. en) little and in (Greek. en) great. Figure of speech Synceceiosis. App-6 . He takes up Agrippa's words with a higher meaning.
except . Greek. parektos. Only here, Mat 5:32 . 2 Corinthians 11:28 .
30.
And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
And when, &c . All the texts omit.
king . Paul's appeal had taken the case out of the hands of Festus; so this was not a court of justice, but an inquiry to please Agrippa, and to enable Festus to make his report to the Emperor. Agrippa was the chairman (verses: Acts 26:1 , Acts 26:24 , Acts 26:26 ) and so gave the signal for closing the inquiry, probably afraid lest any more such searching questions should be put to him.
sat with them . Greek. sunkathemai. Only here and Mark 14:54 .
31.
And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
gone aside . Greek. anachoreo. See Acts 23:19 .
talked . Greek. laleo . App-121 .
between themselves = to (Greek. pros. App-104 .) one another,
man . Greek. anthropos. App-123 .
nothing . Greek. oudeis, as Acts 22:26 .
32.
Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
might have been = could have been, or was able to be.
set at liberty . Greek. apoluo. App-174 .
if . Greek. ei , as in Acts 26:8 .
appealed . Greek. epikaleomai. See Acts 25:11 .