Acts 26:5

Acts 26:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
• New International Version (NIV)They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee.
• English Standard Version (ESV)They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.
• New King James Version (NKJV)They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

Context of Acts 26:5

3You yourself know all about the Jews. You know about how we live. You also know the things that we argue about with each other. So please be patient and listen to me. 4The Jewish people have known me since I was born. They all know how I have lived among them. They knew me in the region where I was born. When I came to Jerusalem, they also know how I lived there. So they have known me for a long time. They could tell you that I always obeyed our Jewish laws. They know that I was a Pharisee. I carefully obeyed God's Law, as a Pharisee does. But maybe they do not want to tell you all that. 6So what is the reason that I stand here today for you to judge me? It is because I believe in God's promise to our ancestors. 7He promised a great thing to our 12 Israelite families. We all expect to receive what God has promised to us. That is why we Jews always worship God, in the day and in the night. Like these Jews here, I believe in God's great promise. But that is the reason that they speak against me.

Acts 26:5 word by word

προγινώσκοντές με ἄνωθεν, ἐὰν θέλωσιν μαρτυρεῖν ὅτι κατὰ τὴν ἀκριβεστάτην αἵρεσιν τῆς ἡμετέρας θρησκείας ἔζησα Φαρισαῖος·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Which knewπρογινώσκωproginōskō · to know/chooseG4267
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• from the beginningἄνωθενanōthen · from above/againG509
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• they wouldθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• testifyμαρτυρέωmartureō · to testifyG3140
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• afterκατάkata · according toG2596
• the most straitestὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the most straitestἀκριβέστατοςakribestatos · strictestG196
• sectαἵρεσιςhairesis · sectG139
• of ourἡμέτεροςhēmeteros · ourG2251
• religionθρησκείαthrēskeia · religionG2356
• I livedζάωzaō · to liveG2198
• a PhariseeΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios · PhariseeG5330

Cross-references for Acts 26:5

• Acts 22:5The most important priest and all the group of Jewish leaders can tell you that this is true. They gave me letters for the Jewish leaders in Damascus. So I travelled to Damascus to take hold of the believers in that city. I wanted to tie them up and bring them back to Jerusalem. Then the leaders here could punish them.’
• Acts 23:6Then Paul saw that there were some Sadducees and also some Pharisees in the meeting. So he shouted out to the whole group of Jewish leaders, ‘My brothers, I am a Pharisee! My father was also a Pharisee. I believe that dead people will certainly rise and they will live again. That is the reason why you are judging me today.’
• Philippians 3:5I belong to Israel's people, to Benjamin's tribe. I am a true Jew. They circumcised me when I was eight days old. I was a Pharisee, and I obeyed the Jewish rules very carefully.
• Acts 24:5We know that this man brings trouble everywhere. Anywhere in the world that Jewish people live, he makes them angry. Then they all fight each other. He is the leader of a group called the Nazarenes.’

Commentaries on Acts 26:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5After the most straitest sect - That is, the Pharisees; who were reputed the strictest in their doctrines, and in their moral practices, of all the sects then among the Jews. The sects were the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Which knew me - Who were well acquainted with me. From the beginning - ̓́ anōthenFormerly; or from the very commencement of my career. Who were perfectly apprised of my whole course. If they would testify - If they would bear witness to what they know. That after the most straitest - The most rigid; the most strict, not only in regard to the written Law of God, but to the traditions of the elders. Paul himself elsewhere testifies Philemon 3:4-6 that he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-23In his careful defense before King Agrippa, Paul argued that his message agreed fully with the Jewish faith. He began by respectfully recognizing Agrippa’s knowledge of Jewish matters (26:2–3). He then described his early life, his training in Judaism, and his membership in the Pharisees (a Jewish group known for strict obedience to the law; 26:4–5). Paul explained that the charges against him were only because he believed that God had fulfilled the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-54-5. from my youth, which was at the first ... at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; which knew me from the beginning--plainly showing that he received his education, even from early youth, at Jerusalem. See on Ac 22:3.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 26:5

• Court
• Defense
• Obedience
• Paul
• Pharisees
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Above
• Agrippa II.
• Beside
• Corner
• Disobedient
• Incredible
• Instantly
• James
• Mad
• Persuade

Commentaries on Acts 26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings