New Living Translation
Acts 26:29
29Paul 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.”
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 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.”
Context of Acts 26:29
27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—” 28Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?” 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.” 30Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. 31As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything to deserve 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 16:3“If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all 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 upon them all!”
- 2 Samuel 18:33The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “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 5:3One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:8You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you.
- 1 Corinthians 7:7But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.
- 2 Corinthians 11:1I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me.
- Jeremiah 13:17And if you still refuse to listen, I will weep alone because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the Lord’s flock will be led away into exile.
- Luke 19:41But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.
- John 5:34Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved.
- Romans 9:1With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.
- Romans 10:1Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved.
- Colossians 1:28So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.
- Acts 12:6The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate.
- Acts 25:14During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was left for me by Felix.
- Ephesians 6:20I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, 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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