31 And G2532 when they were gone aside, G402 they talked G2980 between G4314 themselves, G240 saying, G3004 G3754 This G3778 man G444 doeth G4238 nothing G3762 worthy G514 of death G2288 or G2228 of bonds. G1199
Whom G3739 I perceived G2147 to be accused G1458 of G4012 questions G2213 of their G846 law, G3551 but G1161 to have G2192 nothing G3367 laid to his charge G1462 worthy G514 of death G2288 or G2228 of bonds. G1199
And G1161 there arose G1096 a great G3173 cry: G2906 and G2532 the scribes G1122 that were of the Pharisees' G5330 part G3313 arose, G450 and strove, G1264 saying, G3004 We find G2147 no G3762 evil G2556 in G1722 this G5129 man: G444 but G1161 if G1487 a spirit G4151 or G2228 an angel G32 hath spoken G2980 to him, G846 let us G2313 not G3361 fight G2313 against God.
And David H1732 spake H559 unto the LORD H3068 when he saw H7200 the angel H4397 that smote H5221 the people, H5971 and said, H559 Lo, I have sinned, H2398 and I have done wickedly: H5753 but these sheep, H6629 what have they done? H6213 let thine hand, H3027 I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's H1 house. H1004
Then G1161 said G2036 Pilate G4091 to G4314 the chief priests G749 and G2532 to the people, G3793 I find G2147 no G3762 fault G158 in G1722 this G5129 man. G444
Said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Ye have brought G4374 this G5129 man G444 unto me, G3427 as G5613 one that perverteth G654 the people: G2992 and, G2532 behold, G2400 I, G1473 having examined G350 him before G1799 you, G5216 have found G2147 no G3762 fault G158 in G1722 this G5126 man G444 touching those things G3739 whereof G2596 ye accuse G2723 him: G846 No, G235 nor yet G3761 Herod: G2264 for G1063 I sent G375 you G5209 to G4314 him; G846 and, G2532 lo, G2400 nothing G3762 worthy G514 of death G2288 is G2076 done G4238 unto him. G846
Who, G3748 when they had examined G350 me, G3165 would G1014 have let me go, G630 because G1223 there was G5225 no G3367 cause G156 of death G2288 in G1722 me. G1698
Having G2192 a good G18 conscience; G4893 that, G2443 whereas G1722 G3739 they speak evil G2635 of you, G5216 as G5613 of evildoers, G2555 they may be ashamed G2617 that falsely accuse G1908 your G5216 good G18 conversation G391 in G1722 Christ. G5547
If G1487 ye be reproached G3679 for G1722 the name G3686 of Christ, G5547 happy G3107 are ye; for G3754 the spirit G4151 of glory G1391 and G2532 of God G2316 resteth G373 upon G1909 you: G5209 on G2596 G3303 their part G846 he is evil spoken of, G987 but G1161 on G2596 your part G5209 he is glorified. G1392 But G1063 let G3958 none G3361 G5100 of you G5216 suffer G3958 as G5613 a murderer, G5406 or G2228 as a thief, G2812 or G2228 as an evildoer, G2555 or G2228 as G5613 a busybody in other men's matters. G244 Yet G1161 if G1487 any man suffer as G5613 a Christian, G5546 let him G153 not G3361 be ashamed; G153 but G1161 let him glorify G1392 God G2316 on G1722 this G5129 behalf. G3313
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.