29 And G1161 Paul G3972 said, G2036 I would G302 G2172 to God, G2316 that not G3756 only G3440 thou, G4571 but G235 also G2532 all G3956 that hear G191 me G3450 this day, G4594 were G1096 both G2532 almost, G1722 G3641 and G2532 altogether G1722 G4183 such G5108 as G3697 G2504 I am, G1510 except G3924 these G5130 bonds. G1199
For G1063 I would G2309 that all G3956 men G444 were G1511 even G2532 as G5613 I myself. G1683 But G235 every man G1538 hath G2192 his proper G2398 gift G5486 of G1537 God, G2316 one G3739 G3303 after this manner, G3779 and G1161 another G3739 after that. G3779
Whom G3739 we G2249 preach, G2605 warning G3560 every G3956 man, G444 and G2532 teaching G1321 every G3956 man G444 in G1722 all G3956 wisdom; G4678 that G2443 we may present G3936 every G3956 man G444 perfect G5046 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus: G2424
Now G2235 ye are G2075 full, G2880 now G2235 ye are rich, G4147 ye have reigned as kings G936 without G5565 us: G2257 and G2532 I would to God G3785 G1065 ye did reign, G936 that G2443 we G2249 also G2532 might reign with G4821 you. G5213
Brethren, G80 my G1699 heart's G2588 desire G2107 and G2532 prayer G1162 to G4314 God G2316 for G5228 Israel G2474 is, G2076 that G3303 G1519 they might be saved. G4991
I say G3004 the truth G225 in G1722 Christ, G5547 I lie G5574 not, G3756 my G3450 conscience G4893 also bearing G4828 me G3427 witness G4828 in G1722 the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 That G3754 I G3427 have G2076 great G3173 heaviness G3077 and G2532 continual G88 sorrow in G3601 my G3450 heart. G2588 For G1063 I G1473 could wish G2172 that myself G846 were G1511 accursed G331 from G575 Christ G5547 for G5228 my G3450 brethren, G80 my G3450 kinsmen G4773 according G2596 to the flesh: G4561
And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 said H559 unto them, Would to God H4310 H5414 we had died H4191 by the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 when we sat H3427 by the flesh H1320 pots, H5518 and when we did eat H398 bread H3899 to the full; H7648 for ye have brought us forth H3318 into this wilderness, H4057 to kill H4191 this whole assembly H6951 with hunger. H7458
And G1161 when G3753 Herod G2264 would G3195 have brought G4254 him G846 forth, G4254 the same G1565 night G3571 Peter G4074 was G2258 sleeping G2837 between G3342 two G1417 soldiers, G4757 bound G1210 with two G1417 chains: G254 and G5037 the keepers G5441 before G4253 the door G2374 kept G5083 the prison. G5438
And G2532 when G5613 he was come near, G1448 he beheld G1492 the city, G4172 and wept G2799 over G1909 it, G846 Saying, G3004 If G3754 G1487 thou hadst known, G1097 even G2532 thou, G4771 at least G2534 in G1722 this G5026 thy G4675 day, G2250 the things G3588 which belong unto G4314 thy G4675 peace! G1515 but G1161 now G3568 they are hid G2928 from G575 thine G4675 eyes. G3788
And the king H4428 was much moved, H7264 and went up H5927 to the chamber H5944 over the gate, H8179 and wept: H1058 and as he went, H3212 thus he said, H559 O my son H1121 Absalom, H53 my son, H1121 my son H1121 Absalom! H53 would God I had died H4191 for thee, H5414 O Absalom, H53 my son, H1121 my son! H1121
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Acts 26
Commentary on Acts 26 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 26
We left Paul at the bar, and Festus, and Agrippa, and Bernice, and all the great men of the city of Caesarea, upon the bench, or about it, waiting to hear what he had to say for himself. Now in this chapter we have,
Act 26:1-11
Agrippa was the most honourable person in the assembly, having the title of king bestowed upon him, though otherwise having only the power of other governors under the emperor, and, though not here superior, yet senior, to Festus; and therefore, Festus having opened the cause, Agrippa, as the mouth of the court, intimates to Paul a licence given him to speak for himself, v. 1. Paul was silent till he had this liberty allowed him; for those are not the most forward to speak that are best prepared to speak and speak best. This was a favour which the Jews would not allow him, or not without difficulty; but Agrippa freely gives it to him. And Paul's cause was so good that he desired no more than to have liberty to speak for himself; he needed no advocate, no Tertullus, to speak for him. Notice is taken of his gesture: He stretched forth his hand, as one that was under no consternation at all, but had perfect freedom and command of himself; it also intimates that he was in earnest, and expected their attention while he answered for himself. Observe, He did not insist upon his having appealed to Caesar as an excuse for being silent, did not say, "I will be examined no more till I come to the emperor himself;' but cheerfully embraced the opportunity of doing honour to the cause he suffered for. If we must be ready to give a reason of the hope that is in us to every man that asketh us, much more to every man in authority, 1 Pt. 3:15. Now in this former part of the speech,
This was Paul's character, and this his manner of life in the beginning of his time; and therefore he could not be presumed to be a Christian by education or custom, or to be drawn in by hope of preferment, for all imaginable external objections lay against his being a Christian.
Act 26:12-23
All who believe a God, and have a reverence for his sovereignty, must acknowledge that those who speak and act by his direction, and by warrant from him, are not to be opposed; for that is fighting against God. Now Paul here, by a plain and faithful narrative of matters of fact, makes it out to this august assembly that he had an immediate call from heaven to preach the gospel of Christ to the Gentile world, which was the thing that exasperated the Jews against him. He here shows,
Act 26:24-32
We have reason to think that Paul had a great deal more to say in defence of the gospel he preached, and for the honour of it, and to recommend it to the good opinion of this noble audience; he had just fallen upon that which was the life of the cause-the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and here he is in his element; now he warms more than before, his mouth is opened towards them, his heart is enlarged. Lead him but to this subject, and let him have leave to go on, and he will never know when to conclude; for the power of Christ's death, and the fellowship of his sufferings, are with him inexhaustible subjects. It was a thousand pities then that he should be interrupted, as he is here, and that, being permitted to speak for himself (v. 1), he should not be permitted to say all he designed. But it was a hardship often put upon him, and is a disappointment to us too, who read his discourse with so much pleasure. But there is no remedy, the court thinks it is time to proceed to give in their judgment upon his case.