New International Version
Acts 26:29
29Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
Acts 26:29 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Paul said, "Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”
Context of Acts 26:29
27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” 28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” 30The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”
Read all of Acts 26Acts 26:29 word by word
ὁ δὲ Παῦλος εὐξαίμην ἂν τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐν ὀλίγῳ καὶ ἐν μεγάλῳ οὐ μόνον σὲ ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντάς μου σήμερον γενέσθαι τοιούτους ὁποῖος καὶ ἐγώ εἰμι παρεκτὸς τῶν δεσμῶν τούτων.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- Paulὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- I wouldεὔχομαιeuchomai · to pray/wish forG2172
- ·ἄνan · ifG302
- to Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- notοὐou · noG3756
- onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
- thouσύsu · youG4771
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- alsoκαίkai · andG2532
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- that hearἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- this dayσήμερονsēmeron · todayG4594
- wereγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- almostὀλίγοςoligos · little/fewG3641
- altogetherπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- suchτοιοῦτοςtoioutos · such as thisG5108
- asὁποῖοςhopoios · what sort?G3697
- Iκἀγώkagō kamoi kame · and IG2504
- amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- exceptπαρεκτόςparektos · exceptG3924
- theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- bondsδεσμόςdesmon desmos · chainG1199
Cross-references for Acts 26:29
- Exodus 16:3The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”
- Numbers 11:29But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”
- 2 Samuel 18:33The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”
- 2 Kings 5:3She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:8Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!
- 1 Corinthians 7:7I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
- 2 Corinthians 11:1I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me!
- Jeremiah 13:17If you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the Lord’s flock will be taken captive.
- Luke 19:41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
- John 5:34Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.
- Romans 9:1I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit—
- Romans 10:1Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
- Colossians 1:28He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
- Acts 12:6The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.
- Acts 25:14Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner.
- Ephesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Commentaries on Acts 26:29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29I would to God, etc. - ͅ ͅ, ͅ ͅ - So fully am I persuaded of the infinite excellence of Christianity, and so truly happy am I in possession of it, that I most ardently wish that not only thou, but this whole council, were not only almost, but altogether, such as I am, these Chains excepted. Thus, while his heart glows with affection for their best interests, he wishes that they might enjoy all his blessings, if possible, without being obliged to bear any…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29I would to God - I pray to God; I earnestly desire it of God. This shows: (1) Paul‘s intense desire that Agrippa, and all who heard him, might be saved. (2) his steady and constant belief that none but God could incline people to become altogether Christians. Paul knew well that there was nothing that would overcome the reluctance of the human heart to be an entire Christian but the grace and mercy of God. He had addressed to his hearers the convincing…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-32Verses 24-32 It becomes us, on all occasions, to speak the words of truth and soberness, and then we need not be troubled at the unjust censures of men. Active and laborious followers of the gospel often have been despised as dreamers or madmen, for believing such doctrines and such wonderful facts; and for attesting that the same faith and diligence, and an experience like their own, are necessary to all men, whatever their rank, in order to their…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29Paul’s bold answer shows that he could respond quickly and clearly. He challenges Agrippa and the whole audience to think about the value of knowing Christ and making a personal commitment to him.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 27-2927-29. believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest--The courage and confidence here shown proceeded from a vivid persuasion of Agrippa's knowledge of the facts and faith in the predictions which they verified; and the king's reply is the highest testimony to the correctness of these presumptions and the immense power of such bold yet courteous appeals to conscience.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 26:29
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
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