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

3because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversial issues of the Jews. Therefore I ask you to listen to me patiently. 4Now all the Jews know the way I lived from my youth, spending my life from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. They know, because they have known me from time past, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. 6And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, 7a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve God night and day. Concerning this hope the Jews are accusing me, Your Majesty!

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 22:5as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to make arrests there and bring the prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
• Acts 23:6Then when Paul noticed that part of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, he shouted out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead!”
• Philippians 3:5I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I lived according to the law as a Pharisee.
• Acts 24:5For we have found this man to be a troublemaker, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of 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