English Standard Version
Acts 26:1
1So Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:
Acts 26:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
- New International Version (NIV)Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense:
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.” So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense:
Context of Acts 26:1
So Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: 2"I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
Read all of Acts 26Acts 26:1 word by word
Ἀγρίππας δὲ πρὸς τὸν Παῦλον ἔφη· ἐπιτρέπεταί σοι περὶ σεαυτοῦ λέγειν. τότε ὁ Παῦλος ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα ἀπελογεῖτο·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenδέde · thenG1161
- AgrippaἈγρίππαςAgrippas · AgrippaG67
- saidφημίphēmi · to assertG5346
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- Paulὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
- Thouσύsu · youG4771
- art permittedἐπιτρέπωepitrepō · to permitG2010
- to speakλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
- thyselfσεαυτοῦseautou seautō seauton sautou sautō sauton · yourselfG4572
- Thenτότεtote · thenG5119
- stretched forthἐκτείνωekteinō · to stretch outG1614
- the handχείρcheir · handG5495
- and answered for himselfἀπολογέομαιapologeomai · to defend oneselfG626
Cross-references for Acts 26:1
- Acts 25:16I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to give up anyone before the accused met the accusers face to face and had opportunity to make his defense concerning the charge laid against him.
- Proverbs 18:13If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
- John 7:51"Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?"
- Proverbs 1:24Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
- Ezekiel 16:27Behold, therefore, I stretched out my hand against you and diminished your allotted portion and delivered you to the greed of your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd behavior.
- Romans 10:21But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."
- Acts 26:2"I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,
- Acts 22:1"Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you."
Commentaries on Acts 26:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Then Paul stretched forth the hand - This act, as we have already seen on Acts 21:40, was merely to gain attention; it was no rhetorical flourish, nor designed for one. From knowing, partly by descriptions, and partly by ancient statues, how orators and others who address a concourse of people stood, we can easily conceive the attitude of St. Paul. When the right hand was stretched out, the left remained under the cloak, which being thrown off the right…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Then Paul stretched forth the hand - See the notes on Acts 21:40. This was the usual posture of orators or public speakers. The ancient statues are commonly made in this way, with the right hand extended. The dress of the ancients favored this. The long and loose robe, or outer garment, was fastened usually with a hook or clasp on the right shoulder, and thus left the arm at full liberty. And answered for himself - It cannot be supposed that Paul expected…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Paul's defence before Agrippa. (1-11) His conversion and preaching to the Gentiles. (12-23) Festus and Agrippa convinced of Paul's innocence. (24-32) Verses 1-11 Christianity teaches us to give a reason of the hope that is in us, and also to give honour to whom honour is due, without flattery or fear of man. Agrippa was well versed in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, therefore could the better judge as to the controversy about Jesus being the Messiah…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. 1-32This speech, though in substance the same as that from the fortress stairs of Jerusalem (Ac 22:1-29), differs from it in being less directed to meet the charge of apostasy from the Jewish faith, and giving more enlarged views of his remarkable change and apostolic commission, and the divine support under which he was enabled to brave the hostility of his countrymen. 1-3. Agrippa said--Being a king he appears to have presided. Paul stretched forth the…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 26:1
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries