Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Acts » Chapter 26 » Verse 26

Acts 26:26 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

26 For G1063 the king G935 knoweth G1987 of G4012 these G5130 things, before G4314 whom G3739 also G2532 I speak G2980 freely: G3955 for G1063 I am persuaded G3982 that G3756 none G5100 G3762 of these things G5130 are hidden G2990 from him; G846 for G1063 this thing G5124 was G2076 not G3756 done G4238 in G1722 a corner. G1137

Cross Reference

Acts 2:1-12 STRONG

And G2532 when G1722 the day G2250 of Pentecost G4005 was fully come, G4845 they were G2258 all G537 with one accord G3661 in G1909 one place. G846 And G2532 suddenly G869 there came G1096 a sound G2279 from G1537 heaven G3772 as G5618 of a rushing G5342 mighty G972 wind, G4157 and G2532 it filled G4137 all G3650 the house G3624 where G3757 they were G2258 sitting. G2521 And G2532 there appeared G3700 unto them G846 cloven G1266 tongues G1100 like as G5616 of fire, G4442 and G5037 it sat G2523 upon G1909 each G1538 G1520 of them. G846 And G2532 they were G4130 all G537 filled G4130 with the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 and G2532 began G756 to speak with G2980 other G2087 tongues, G1100 as G2531 the Spirit G4151 gave G1325 them G846 utterance. G669 And G1161 there were G2258 dwelling G2730 at G1722 Jerusalem G2419 Jews, G2453 devout G2126 men, G435 out of G575 every G3956 nation G1484 under G5259 heaven. G3772 Now G1161 when this G5026 was G1096 noised abroad, G5456 the multitude G4128 came together, G4905 and G2532 were confounded, G4797 because G3754 that every G1538 man G1520 heard G191 them G846 speak G2980 in his own G2398 language. G1258 And G1161 they were G1839 all G3956 amazed G1839 and G2532 marvelled, G2296 saying G3004 one to another, G4314 G240 Behold, G2400 are G1526 not G3756 all G3956 these G3778 which G3588 speak G2980 Galilaeans? G1057 And G2532 how G4459 hear G191 we G2249 every G1538 man in our G2257 own G2398 tongue, G1258 wherein G1722 G3739 we were born? G1080 Parthians, G3934 and G2532 Medes, G3370 and G2532 Elamites, G1639 and G2532 the dwellers G2730 in Mesopotamia, G3318 and G5037 in Judaea, G2449 and G2532 Cappadocia, G2587 in Pontus, G4195 and G2532 Asia, G773 G5037 Phrygia, G5435 and G5037 G2532 Pamphylia, G3828 in Egypt, G125 and G2532 in the parts G3313 of Libya G3033 about G2596 Cyrene, G2957 and G2532 strangers G1927 of Rome, G4514 G5037 Jews G2453 and G5037 G2532 proselytes, G4339 Cretes G2912 and G2532 Arabians, G690 we do hear G191 them G846 speak G2980 in our G2251 tongues G1100 the wonderful works G3167 of God. G2316 And G1161 they were G1839 all G3956 amazed, G1839 and G2532 were in doubt, G1280 saying G3004 one G243 to G4314 another, G243 What G5101 meaneth G2309 G302 G1511 this? G5124

Isaiah 30:20 STRONG

And though the Lord H136 give H5414 you the bread H3899 of adversity, H6862 and the water H4325 of affliction, H3906 yet shall not thy teachers H3384 be removed into a corner H3670 any more, but thine eyes H5869 shall see H7200 thy teachers: H3384

Matthew 26:5 STRONG

But G1161 they said, G3004 Not G3361 on G1722 the feast G1859 day, lest G3363 there be G1096 an uproar G2351 among G1722 the people. G2992

Matthew 27:29-54 STRONG

And G2532 when they had platted G4120 a crown G4735 of G1537 thorns, G173 they put G2007 it upon G1909 his G846 head, G2776 and G2532 a reed G2563 in G1909 his G846 right hand: G1188 and G2532 they bowed the knee G1120 before G1715 him, G846 and mocked G1702 him, G846 saying, G3004 Hail, G5463 King G935 of the Jews! G2453 And G2532 they spit G1716 upon G1519 him, G846 and took G2983 the reed, G2563 and G2532 smote G5180 him G846 on G1519 the head. G2776 And G2532 after G3753 that they had mocked G1702 him, G846 they took G1562 the robe G5511 off G1562 from him, G846 and G2532 put G1746 his own G846 raiment G2440 on G1746 him, G846 and G2532 led G520 him G846 away G520 to G1519 crucify G4717 him. And G1161 as they came out, G1831 they found G2147 a man G444 of Cyrene, G2956 Simon G4613 by name: G3686 him G5126 they compelled G29 to G2443 bear G142 his G846 cross. G4716 And G2532 when they were come G2064 unto G1519 a place G5117 called G3004 Golgotha, G1115 that G3739 is G2076 to say, G3004 a place G5117 of a skull, G2898 They gave G1325 him G846 vinegar G3690 to drink G4095 mingled G3396 with G3326 gall: G5521 and G2532 when he had tasted G1089 thereof, he would G2309 not G3756 drink. G4095 And G1161 they crucified G4717 him, G846 and parted G1266 his G846 garments, G2440 casting G906 lots: G2819 that G2443 it might be fulfilled G4137 which G3588 was spoken G4483 by G5259 the prophet, G4396 They parted G1266 my G3450 garments G2440 among them, G1438 and G2532 upon G1909 my G3450 vesture G2441 did they cast G906 lots. G2819 And G2532 sitting down G2521 they watched G5083 him G846 there; G1563 And G2532 set up G2007 over G1883 his G846 head G2776 his G846 accusation G156 written, G1125 THIS G3778 IS G2076 JESUS G2424 THE KING G935 OF THE JEWS. G2453 Then G5119 were there two G1417 thieves G3027 crucified G4717 with G4862 him, G846 one G1520 on G1537 the right hand, G1188 and G2532 another G1520 on G1537 the left. G2176 And G1161 they that passed by G3899 reviled G987 him, G846 wagging G2795 their G846 heads, G2776 And G2532 saying, G3004 Thou that destroyest G2647 the temple, G3485 and G2532 buildest G3618 it in G1722 three G5140 days, G2250 save G4982 thyself. G4572 If G1487 thou be G1488 the Son G5207 of God, G2316 come down G2597 from G575 the cross. G4716 G1161 Likewise G3668 also G2532 the chief priests G749 mocking G1702 him, with G3326 the scribes G1122 and G2532 elders, G4245 said, G3004 He saved G4982 others; G243 himself G1438 he cannot G3756 G1410 save. G4982 If G1487 he be G2076 the King G935 of Israel, G2474 let him G2597 now G3568 come down G2597 from G575 the cross, G4716 and G2532 we will believe G4100 him. G846 He trusted G3982 in G1909 God; G2316 let him deliver G4506 him G846 now, G3568 if G1487 he will have G2309 him: G846 for G1063 he said, G2036 G3754 I am G1510 the Son G5207 of God. G2316 G1161 The thieves G3027 also, G2532 which G3588 were crucified G4957 with him, G846 cast G3679 the same G846 in his G846 teeth. G3679 Now G1161 from G575 the sixth G1623 hour G5610 there was G1096 darkness G4655 over G1909 all G3956 the land G1093 unto G2193 the ninth G1766 hour. G5610 And G1161 about G4012 the ninth G1766 hour G5610 Jesus G2424 cried G310 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 saying, G3004 Eli, G2241 Eli, G2241 lama G2982 sabachthani? G4518 that G5123 is to say, My G3450 God, G2316 my G3450 God, G2316 why G2444 hast thou forsaken G1459 me? G3165 G1161 Some of them G5100 that stood G2476 there, G1563 when they heard G191 that, said, G3004 G3754 This G3778 man calleth for G5455 Elias. G2243 And G2532 straightway G2112 one G1520 of G1537 them G846 ran, G5143 and G2532 took G2983 a spunge, G4699 and G5037 filled G4130 it with vinegar, G3690 and G2532 put it on G4060 a reed, G2563 and gave G4222 him G846 to drink. G4222 The G1161 rest G3062 said, G3004 Let be, G863 let us see G1492 whether G1487 Elias G2243 will come G2064 to save G4982 him. G846 G1161 Jesus, G2424 when he had cried G2896 again G3825 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 yielded up G863 the ghost. G4151 And, G2532 behold, G2400 the veil G2665 of the temple G3485 was rent G4977 in G1519 twain G1417 from G575 the top G509 to G2193 the bottom; G2736 and G2532 the earth G1093 did quake, G4579 and G2532 the rocks G4073 rent; G4977 And G2532 the graves G3419 were opened; G455 and G2532 many G4183 bodies G4983 of the saints G40 which G3588 slept G2837 arose, G1453 And G2532 came G1831 out of G1537 the graves G3419 after G3326 his G846 resurrection, G1454 and went G1525 into G1519 the holy G40 city, G4172 and G2532 appeared G1718 unto many. G4183 Now G1161 when the centurion, G1543 and G2532 they that were with G3326 him, G846 watching G5083 Jesus, G2424 saw G1492 the earthquake, G4578 and G2532 those things that were done, G1096 they feared G5399 greatly, G4970 saying, G3004 Truly G230 this G3778 was G2258 the Son G5207 of God. G2316

Acts 4:16-21 STRONG

Saying, G3004 What G5101 shall we do G4160 to these G5125 men? G444 for G1063 that G3754 indeed G3303 a notable G1110 miracle G4592 hath been done G1096 by G1223 them G846 is manifest G5318 to all them G3956 that dwell G2730 in Jerusalem; G2419 and G2532 we cannot G3756 G1410 deny G720 it. But G235 that G3363 it spread G1268 no G3363 further G1909 G4119 among G1519 the people, G2992 let us straitly G547 threaten G546 them, G846 that they speak G2980 henceforth G3371 to no G3367 man G444 in G1909 this G5129 name. G3686 And G2532 they called G2564 them, G846 and commanded G3853 them G846 not G3361 to speak G5350 at all G2527 nor G3366 teach G1321 in G1909 the name G3686 of Jesus. G2424 But G1161 Peter G4074 and G2532 John G2491 answered G611 and said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Whether G1487 it be G2076 right G1342 in the sight G1799 of God G2316 to hearken G191 unto you G5216 more than G3123 G2228 unto God, G2316 judge ye. G2919 For G1063 we G2249 cannot G3756 G1410 but G3361 speak G2980 the things which G3739 we have seen G1492 and G2532 heard. G191 So G1161 when they had further threatened them, G4324 they let G630 them G846 go, G630 finding G2147 nothing G3367 how G4459 they might punish G2849 them, G846 because G1223 of the people: G2992 for G3754 all G3956 men glorified G1392 God G2316 for G1909 that which was done. G1096

Acts 5:18-42 STRONG

And G2532 laid G1911 their G846 hands G5495 on G1909 the apostles, G652 and G2532 put G5087 them G846 in G1722 the common G1219 prison. G5084 But G1161 the angel G32 of the Lord G2962 by G1223 night G3571 opened G455 the prison G5438 doors, G2374 and G5037 brought G1806 them G846 forth, G1806 and said, G2036 Go, G4198 stand G2476 and G2532 speak G2980 in G1722 the temple G2411 to the people G2992 all G3956 the words G4487 of this G5026 life. G2222 And G1161 when they heard G191 that, they entered G1525 into G1519 the temple G2411 early in the morning, G5259 G3722 and G2532 taught. G1321 But G1161 the high priest G749 came, G3854 and G2532 they that were with G4862 him, G846 and called G4779 the council G4892 together, G4779 and G2532 all G3956 the senate G1087 of the children G5207 of Israel, G2474 and G2532 sent G649 to G1519 the prison G1201 to have G71 them G846 brought. G71 But G1161 when the officers G5257 came, G3854 and found G2147 them G846 not G3756 in G1722 the prison, G5438 they returned, G390 and G1161 told, G518 Saying, G3004 G3754 The prison G1201 truly G3303 found we G2147 shut G2808 with G1722 all G3956 safety, G803 and G2532 the keepers G5441 standing G2476 without G1854 before G4253 the doors: G2374 but G1161 when we had opened, G455 we found G2147 no man G3762 within. G2080 Now G1161 when G5613 G5037 the high priest G2409 and G2532 the captain G4755 of the temple G2411 and G2532 the chief priests G749 heard G191 these G5128 things, G3056 they doubted G1280 of G4012 them G846 whereunto G5101 G302 this G5124 would grow. G1096 Then came G3854 one G5100 and G1161 told G518 them, G846 saying, G3004 G3754 Behold, G2400 the men G435 whom G3739 ye put G5087 in G1722 prison G5438 are G1526 standing G2476 in G1722 the temple, G2411 and G2532 teaching G1321 the people. G2992 Then G5119 went G565 the captain G4755 with G4862 the officers, G5257 and brought G71 them G846 without G3756 G3326 violence: G970 for G1063 they feared G5399 the people, G2992 lest G3363 they should have been stoned. G3034 And G1161 when they had brought G71 them, G846 they set G2476 them before G1722 the council: G4892 and G2532 the high priest G749 asked G1905 them, G846 Saying, G3004 Did G3853 not G3756 we straitly G3852 command G3853 you G5213 that ye should G1321 not G3361 teach G1321 in G1909 this G5129 name? G3686 and, G2532 behold, G2400 ye have filled G4137 Jerusalem G2419 with your G5216 doctrine, G1322 and G2532 intend G1014 to bring G1863 this G5127 man's G444 blood G129 upon G1909 us. G2248 Then G1161 Peter G4074 and G2532 the other apostles G652 answered G611 and said, G2036 We ought G1163 to obey G3980 God G2316 rather G3123 than G2228 men. G444 The God G2316 of our G2257 fathers G3962 raised up G1453 Jesus, G2424 whom G3739 ye G5210 slew G1315 and hanged G2910 on G1909 a tree. G3586 Him G5126 hath God G2316 exalted G5312 with his G846 right hand G1188 to be a Prince G747 and G2532 a Saviour, G4990 for to give G1325 repentance G3341 to Israel, G2474 and G2532 forgiveness G859 of sins. G266 And G2532 we G2249 are G2070 his G846 witnesses G3144 of these G5130 things; G4487 and G2532 so is also G1161 the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 whom G3739 God G2316 hath given G1325 to them that obey G3980 him. G846 When G1161 they heard G191 that, they were cut G1282 to the heart, and G2532 took counsel G1011 to slay G337 them. G846 Then G1161 stood there up G450 one G5100 in G1722 the council, G4892 a Pharisee, G5330 named G3686 Gamaliel, G1059 a doctor of the law, G3547 had in reputation G5093 among all G3956 the people, G2992 and commanded G2753 to put G4160 the apostles G652 forth G1854 a G5100 little space; G1024 And G5037 said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Ye men G435 of Israel, G2475 take heed G4337 to yourselves G1438 what G5101 ye intend G3195 to do G4238 as touching G1909 these G5125 men. G444 For G1063 before G4253 these G5130 days G2250 rose up G450 Theudas, G2333 boasting G3004 himself G1438 to be G1511 somebody; G5100 to whom G3739 a number G706 of men, G435 about G5616 four hundred, G5071 joined themselves: G4347 who G3739 was slain; G337 and G2532 all, G3956 as many as G3745 obeyed G3982 him, G846 were scattered, G1262 and G2532 brought G1096 to G1519 nought. G3762 After G3326 this man G5126 rose up G450 Judas G2455 of Galilee G1057 in G1722 the days G2250 of the taxing, G582 and G2532 drew away G868 much G2425 people G2992 after G3694 him: G846 he also G2548 perished; G622 and G2532 all, G3956 even as many as G3745 obeyed G3982 him, G846 were dispersed. G1287 And G2532 now G3569 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Refrain G868 from G575 these G5130 men, G444 and G2532 let G1439 them G846 alone: G1439 for G3754 if G1437 this G3778 counsel G1012 or G2228 this G5124 work G2041 be G5600 of G1537 men, G444 it will come to nought: G2647 But G1161 if G1487 it be G2076 of G1537 God, G2316 ye cannot G3756 G1410 overthrow G2647 it; G846 lest haply G3379 ye be found G2147 even G2532 to fight against God. G2314 And G1161 to him G846 they agreed: G3982 and G2532 when they had called G4341 the apostles, G652 and beaten G1194 them, they commanded G3853 that they should G2980 not G3361 speak G2980 in G1909 the name G3686 of Jesus, G2424 and G2532 let G630 them G846 go. G630 And G3767 they departed G4198 G3303 from G575 the presence G4383 of the council, G4892 rejoicing G5463 that G3754 they were counted worthy G2661 to suffer shame G818 for G5228 his G846 name. G3686 And G5037 daily G2250 G3956 in G1722 the temple, G2411 and G2532 in every G2596 house, G3624 they ceased G3973 not G3756 to teach G1321 and G2532 preach G2097 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547

Acts 25:22 STRONG

Then G1161 Agrippa G67 said G5346 unto G4314 Festus, G5347 I would G1014 also G2532 hear G191 the man G444 myself. G846 To morrow, G839 G1161 said G5346 he, thou shalt hear G191 him. G846

Acts 26:2-3 STRONG

I think G2233 myself G1683 happy, G3107 king G935 Agrippa, G67 because I shall G3195 answer for myself G626 this day G4594 before G1909 thee G4675 touching G4012 all the things G3956 whereof G3739 I am accused G1458 of G5259 the Jews: G2453 Especially G3122 because I know G1492 thee G4571 to be G5607 expert G1109 G5037 in all G3956 customs G1485 and G2532 questions G2213 which are among G2596 the Jews: G2453 wherefore G1352 I beseech G1189 thee G4675 to hear G191 me G3450 patiently. G3116

Commentary on Acts 26 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 26

Ac 26:1-32. Paul's Defense of Himself before King Agrippa, Who Pronounces Him Innocent, but Concludes That the Appeal to Cæsar Must Be Carried Out.

This 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 hand—chained to a soldier (Ac 26:29, and see on Ac 12:6).

3. I know thee to be expert, &c.—His father was zealous for the law, and he himself had the office of president of the temple and its treasures, and the appointment of the high priest [Josephus, Antiquities, 20.1.3].

hear me patiently—The idea of "indulgently" is also conveyed.

4, 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.

5. if they would—"were willing to"

testify—but this, of course, they were not, it being a strong point in his favor.

after the most straitest—"the strictest."

sect—as the Pharisees confessedly were. This was said to meet the charge, that as a Hellenistic Jew he had contracted among the heathen lax ideas of Jewish peculiarities.

6, 7. I … am judged for the hope of the promise made … to our fathers—"for believing that the promise of Messiah, the Hope of the Church (Ac 13:32; 28:20) has been fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth risen from the dead."

7. Unto which promise—the fulfilment of it.

our twelve tribes—(Jas 1:1; and see on Lu 2:36).

instantly—"intently"; see on Ac 12:5.

serving God—in the sense of religious worship; on "ministered," see on Ac 13:2.

day and night, hope to come—The apostle rises into language as catholic as the thought—representing his despised nation, all scattered thought it now was, as twelve great branches of one ancient stem, in all places of their dispersion offering to the God of their fathers one unbroken worship, reposing on one great "promise" made of old unto their fathers, and sustained by one "hope" of "coming" to its fulfilment; the single point of difference between him and his countrymen, and the one cause of all their virulence against him, being, that his hope had found rest in One already come, while theirs still pointed to the future.

For which hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews—"I am accused of Jews, O king" (so the true reading appears to be); of all quarters the most surprising for such a charge to come from. The charge of sedition is not so much as alluded to throughout this speech. It was indeed a mere pretext.

8. Why should it be thought a thing incredible … that God should raise the dead?—rather, "Why is it judged a thing incredible if God raises the dead?" the case being viewed as an accomplished fact. No one dared to call in question the overwhelming evidence of the resurrection of Jesus, which proclaimed Him to be the Christ, the Son of God; the only way of getting rid of it, therefore, was to pronounce it incredible. But why, asks the apostle, is it so judged? Leaving this pregnant question to find its answer in the breasts of his audience, he now passes to his personal history.

9-15. (See on Ac 9:1, &c.; and compare Ac 22:4, &c.)

16-18. But rise, &c.—Here the apostle appears to condense into one statement various sayings of his Lord to him in visions at different times, in order to present at one view the grandeur of the commission with which his Master had clothed him [Alford].

a minister … both of these things which thou hast seen—putting him on a footing with those "eye-witnesses and ministers of the word" mentioned in Lu 1:2.

and of those in which I will appear to thee—referring to visions he was thereafter to be favored with; such as Ac 18:9, 10; 22:17-21; 23:11; 2Co 12:1-10, &c. (Ga 1:12).

17. Delivering thee from the people—the Jews.

and from the Gentiles—He was all along the object of Jewish malignity, and was at that moment in the hands of the Gentiles; yet he calmly reposes on his Master's assurances of deliverance from both, at the same time taking all precautions for safety and vindicating all his legal rights.

unto whom now I send thee—The emphatic "I" here denotes the authority of the Sender [Bengel].

18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light—rather, "that they may turn" (as in Ac 26:20), that is, as the effect of their eyes being opened. The whole passage leans upon Isa 61:1 (Lu 4:18).

and from the power of Satan—Note the connection here between being "turned from darkness" and "from the power of Satan," whose whole power over men lies in keeping them in the dark: hence he is called "the ruler of the darkness of this world." See on 2Co 4:4.

that they may receive forgiveness … and inheritance among the sanctified by faith that is in me—Note: Faith is here made the instrument of salvation at once in its first stage, forgiveness, and its last, admission to the home of the sanctified; and the faith which introduces the soul to all this is emphatically declared by the glorified Redeemer to rest upon Himself—"FAITH, even THAT WHICH IS IN Me." And who that believes this can refrain from casting his crown before Him or resist offering Him supreme worship?

19-21. Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision—This musical and elevated strain, which carries the reader along with it, and doubtless did the hearers, bespeaks the lofty region of thought and feeling to which the apostle had risen while rehearsing his Master's communications to him from heaven.

20. showed … to them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem—omitting Arabia; because, beginning with the Jews, his object was to mention first the places where his former hatred of the name of Christ was best known: the mention of the Gentiles, so unpalatable to his audience, is reserved to the last.

repent and return to God, and do works meet for repentance—a brief description of conversion and its proper fruits, suggested, probably, by the Baptist's teaching (Lu 3:7, 8).

22, 23. having obtained help—"succor."

from God—"that [which cometh] from God."

I continue—"stand," "hold my ground."

unto this day, witnessing, &c.—that is, This life of mine, so marvellously preserved, in spite of all the plots against it, is upheld for the Gospel's sake; therefore I "witnessed," &c.

23. That Christ should suffer, &c.—The construction of this sentence implies that in regard to the question "whether the Messiah is a suffering one, and whether, rising first from the dead, he should show light to the (Jewish) people and to the Gentiles," he had only said what the prophets and Moses said should come.

24. Festus said with a loud voice—surprised and bewildered.

Paul, thou art beside thyself, much learning doth make thee mad—"is turning thy head." The union of flowing Greek, deep acquaintance with the sacred writings of his nation, reference to a resurrection and other doctrines to a Roman utterly unintelligible, and, above all, lofty religious earnestness, so strange to the cultivated, cold-hearted skeptics of that day—may account for this sudden exclamation.

25, 26. I am not mad, most noble Festus, but, &c.—Can anything surpass this reply, for readiness, self-possession, calm dignity? Every word of it refuted the rude charge, though Festus, probably, did not intend to hurt the prisoner's feelings.

26. the king knoweth, &c.—(See on Ac 26:1-3).

27-29. 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.

28. Almost—or, "in a little time."

thou persuadest me to be a Christian—Most modern interpreters think the ordinary translation inadmissible, and take the meaning to be, "Thou thinkest to make me with little persuasion (or small trouble) a Christian"—but I am not to be so easily turned. But the apostle's reply can scarcely suit any but the sense given in our authorized version, which is that adopted by Chrysostom and some of the best scholars since. The objection on which so much stress is laid, that the word "Christian" was at that time only a term of contempt, has no force except on the other side; for taking it in that view, the sense is, "Thou wilt soon have me one of that despised sect."

29. I would to God, &c.—What unequalled magnanimity does this speech breathe! Only his Master ever towered above this.

not only … almost … but altogether—or, "whether soon or late," or "with little or much difficulty."

except these bonds—doubtless holding up his two chained hands (see on Ac 12:6): which in closing such a noble utterance must have had an electrical effect.

30-32. when he had thus spoken, the king rose—not over-easy, we may be sure.

32. This man might have been set at liberty if he had not appealed to Cæsar—It would seem from this that such appeals, once made, behooved to be carried out.