Acts 26:1

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:
• English Standard Version (ESV)So Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made 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:

Context of Acts 26:1

Agrippa said to Paul, “You’re free to speak for yourself.” Paul acknowledged King Agrippa and then began his defense. 2“King Agrippa, I think I’m fortunate today to stand in front of you and defend myself against every charge that the Jews brought against me. 3I say this since you are especially familiar with every custom and controversy in Judaism. So I ask you to listen patiently to me.

Acts 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 25:16“I replied to them, ‘That’s not the Roman way of doing things. A person can’t be sentenced as a favor. Before he is sentenced, he must face his accusers and have a chance to defend himself against their accusation.’
• Proverbs 18:13Whoever gives an answer before he listens is stupid and shameful.
• John 7:51“Do Moses’ Teachings enable us to judge a person without first hearing that person’s side of the story? We can’t judge a person without finding out what that person has done.”
• Proverbs 1:24“I called, and you refused to listen. I stretched out my hands to you, and no one paid attention.
• Ezekiel 16:27“ ‘So I used my power against you. I took away some of your land, and I handed you over to your greedy enemies, the Philistines, who were ashamed of what you had done.
• Romans 10:21Then Isaiah said about Israel, “All day long I have stretched out my hands to disobedient and rebellious people.”
• Acts 26:2“King Agrippa, I think I’m fortunate today to stand in front of you and defend myself against every charge that the Jews brought against me.
• Acts 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen as I now present my case to 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

• Court
• Defense
• Prisoners
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Paul
• Paul, Saul
• Above
• Agrippa II.
• Beside
• Corner
• Disobedient
• Incredible
• Instantly
• James

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