Acts 26King James Version
Paul before Agrippa. He gives his testimony again, this time at length. The Damascus road. The voice. Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision. Festus interrupts: Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. Agrippa: Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Paul: 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.
Paul gives his longest personal testimony before Agrippa. He describes his Pharisaic background, his persecution of Christians, his Damascus road encounter, and his commission to open the eyes of Gentiles and turn them from darkness to light. Festus interrupts to say Paul has gone mad from too much learning. Paul appeals to Agrippa, who says the speech almost persuades him. Agrippa, Bernice, and Festus agree privately: Paul has done nothing deserving death or imprisonment. If he had not appealed to Caesar, he could have been set free.
Paul gives his most complete autobiographical testimony before the highest human audience in Acts, and the conclusion is that he is innocent, his appeal means he goes to Rome anyway.
28: "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." The most famous almost in the New Testament: the king who got as close as anyone in power ever did.
The audience hall in Caesarea was a formal Roman venue, and Agrippa and Bernice arrived with great pomp, with the military commanders and leading men of the city. Paul was brought out of custody to stand before this assembly in a display Festus had organized partly to legitimize his own uncertainty. Paul's response was not intimidated: he directly addressed Agrippa's knowledge of the prophets and staked the entire argument on the resurrection. The king and the governor walked out in private agreement that Paul was free of guilt.
Paul, at his most rhetorically developed; Festus, calling Paul mad; Agrippa, almost persuaded; Bernice, listening; the officials and prominent men of Caesarea watching the performance.
This is the third and most developed account of Paul's conversion in Acts, shaped now for a royal audience. The speech contains Paul's most comprehensive summary of his mission: to open blind eyes, turn people from darkness to light, from Satan's authority to God's, so they can receive forgiveness and a share among those made holy. Agrippa's verdict that Paul could have been freed if he had not appealed is a deliberate echo of Pilate's verdict on Jesus: innocent, but going to his death anyway.
For when you have spoken as clearly and completely as you know how, and the person says almost. Almost is not no. Almost is not yes. It is the saddest word in persuasion.
1Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
3Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
7Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
8Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
9I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
14And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
21For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
22Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
24And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
27King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29And 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.
30And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
31And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.