New King James Version
Acts 26:29
29And 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.”
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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.”
- 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 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 that you do believe.” 28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” 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.” 30When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; 31and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”
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 16:3And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
- Numbers 11:29Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”
- 2 Samuel 18:33Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, my son!”
- 2 Kings 5:3Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:8You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!
- 1 Corinthians 7:7For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
- 2 Corinthians 11:1Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me.
- Jeremiah 13:17But if you will not hear it, My soul will weep in secret for your pride; My eyes will weep bitterly And run down with tears, Because the Lord’s flock has been taken captive.
- Luke 19:41Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,
- John 5:34Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.
- Romans 9:1I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,
- Romans 10:1Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.
- Colossians 1:28Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
- Acts 12:6And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
- Acts 25:14When they had been there many days, Festus laid Paul’s case before the king, saying: “There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix,
- Ephesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries