Acts Chapter 26 Verse-by-Verse Commentary
Acts 26:1
Agrippa said to Sha'ul, "You have permission to speak on your own behalf." Then Sha'ul motioned with his hand and began his defense:
In chapter 25, we saw that he was brought before a king and now he is going to have the chance to tell the king about Jesus Christ.
Acts 26:2 & 3
"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that it is before you today that I am defending myself against all the charges made against me by Jews, because you are so well informed about all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
Although there were probably several hundred people in the "court", Paul understood that he was there at that time, by the will of God, to tell the gospel to one man (King Agrippa). He considered it a great opportunity to stand before the king and to share his testimony concerning Jesus Christ. We, like Paul, are given unique opportunities by the will of God to share our testimony and we, too, should consider ourselves fortunate for that.
Acts 26:4 & 5
"So then! All Jews know how I lived my life from my youth on, both in my own country and in Yerushalayim. They have known me for a long time; and if they are willing, they can testify that I have followed the strictest party in our religion - that is, I have lived as a Parush.
Paul begins by reminding the king that he had been one of the Jewish rulers and not just a typical Jew but the strictest form of the religion. Those that had accused him were also aware of his past and what God had done in and through Paul. They simply wanted to deny the facts because it did not fit into their religion. The same type of thing has even happened in the "church" today as many reject much of God's Word because it does not fit into their tradition or religion.
Acts 26:6-8
How ironic it is that I stand on trial here because of my hope in the promise made to our fathers! It is the fulfillment of this very promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they resolutely carry on their acts of worship night and day; yet it is in connection with this hope, your Majesty, that I am being accused by Jews! Why do you people consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
The denial continues as Paul points out that they want to deny the resurrection of Jesus. This goes back to a plan that the chief priests came up with when the tomb was found to be empty (see Matthew 28:11-15). Paul faithfully proclaimed the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead and that we will be raised with Him.
Acts 26:9
"I used to think it was my duty to do all I could to combat the name of Yeshua from Natzeret;
Paul identifies himself with those that are persecuting him as he reminds them that he used to be one of them. It is hard for us to understand and identify ourselves with those who are attacking us but we, like Paul, must remember that we were once enemies of God just like those that are attacking His children. There is also the hope that, when God gets a hold of them, He can use them in a mighty way for His kingdom just as He did with Paul.
Acts 26:10 & 11
and in Yerushalayim I did so. After receiving authority from the head cohanim, I myself threw many of God's people in prison; when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Often I went from one synagogue to another, punishing them and trying to make them blaspheme; and in my wild fury against them, I even went so far as to persecute them in cities outside the country.
Paul continues to identify with them as he explains the persecution that he led against the early followers of The Way. He explains that, like those that are accusing him, he even went to foreign cities in order to persecute them. We, too, can identify with those around us by remembering that we were once like them. It is easy for us, as believers, to develop a "holier than thou" attitude towards those that we see sinning but we must remember that we were once in their position.
Acts 26:12-14
"On one such occasion, I was traveling to Dammesek with the full authority and power of the head cohanim. I was on the road, and it was noon, your Majesty, when I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my traveling companions. We all fell to the ground; and then I heard a voice saying to me, in Hebrew, 'Sha'ul! Sha'ul! Why do you keep persecuting me? It's hard on you to be kicking against the ox-goads!'
Paul continues to explain that he was actually on his way to persecute more believers when God intervened. The normal reaction when a man comes face to face with God is that the man falls to his knees in worship and that is just what Paul and his companions did. A goad was a stick that was sharpened to a point on one end and flattened on the other end. It was used by farmers to get the oxen in the field to move and to keep the plow clean. Kicking against the goads speaks of rebellion and, just as it was pointless for the oxen to kick when prodded by the farmer, this passage reminds us that God is in control and has a plan for the lives of each of us (see Ephesians 2:10). He goads us along the way in order to keep us moving in the right direction. Sometimes, as here in the case of Saul/Paul, God has to show up in a big way.
Acts 26:15
I said, 'Who are you, sir?' and the Lord answered, 'I am Yeshua, and you are persecuting me!
We see, here, that he was acting out of ignorance because he did not really know who Jesus was. We also see the fact that God considers persecution of His children to be persecution of Him. You can almost feel Paul's compassion as he trys to make those gathered see that they are in the same position that he had been in. This is a good example for us of how we are to have compassion and understanding towards those who are against us.
Acts 26:16
But get up, and stand on your feet! I have appeared to you to appoint you to serve and bear witness to what you have already seen of me, and to what you will see when I appear to you in the future.
Jesus told Paul to stand up and commissioned him as an apostle. Although there are many today that claim the title of apostle, we cannot rightly do so. An apostle was taught by Jesus in person and then sent out to teach others. We see both of these conditions met in this verse as Paul describes what happened.
Acts 26:17 & 18
I will deliver you from the People and from the Goyim. I am sending you to open their eyes; so that they will turn from darkness to light, from the power of the Adversary to God, and thus receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who have been separated for holiness by putting their trust in me.'
Jesus continues to commission Paul as an apostle and promises to rescue him from the trials that are to come. We all have probably felt, at some point in time, that the whole world is against us. Here, Paul is told that the whole world (both Jews and non-Jews) will be against him. He is told his mission and the purpose for it. We, like Paul, can hold onto this promise that Jesus will rescue us from all of the trials that we face no matter what the odds.
Acts 26:19 & 20
"So, King Agrippa, I did not disobey the vision from heaven! On the contrary, I announced first in Dammesek, then in Yerushalayim and throughout Y'hudah, and also to the Goyim, that they should turn from their sins to God and then do deeds consistent with that repentance.
People had been trying to portray Paul as a lawless rebel but, here, he lets the king know that he was, in fact, telling the people to repent and turn back to the ways of God. This passage describes the age old struggle between salvation by grace and works. There are those who want to put them in the wrong order even today. What Paul is saying here is that we are saved by grace and because we are saved our actions are different. This difference in our actions is proof of our repentance and salvation but the actions themselves cannot repair our broken relationship with God. That only comes through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ.
Acts 26:21
It was because of these things that Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me.
The Jewish leaders believed that they and only they were God's chosen people and so they did not see a place in the family of God for Gentiles. Paul explains that that was the reason that they were out to kill him.
Acts 26:22 & 23
However, I have had God's help; so to this day, I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what both the prophets and Moshe said would happen - that the Messiah would die, and that he, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to both the People and the Goyim."
Paul explains that God has protected him against the schemes of those that were accusing him and we can take comfort in the fact that God will protect us too. He also reminds them that he is not saying anything different than what the Old Testament prophets had said. There are many who do not understand that the Old Testament is all about the coming of Jesus Christ. We study the Old Testament because it helps us to understand more about Jesus Christ and the nature of God the Father.
Acts 26:24
But just as he reached this point in his defense, Festus shouted at the top of his voice, "Sha'ul, you're out of your mind! So much learning is driving you crazy!"
At this point, it looks like things are going bad for Festus and he is possibly going to be blamed for this mess. Therefore, he jumps into the conversation and accuses Paul of being insane. That is a normal pattern in that, when people cannot disprove your words, they will resort to questioning your mental capacity. Jesus was accused of being out of His mind and now we see the same thing happening to Paul. If you are faithfully serving the Lord, you can expect the same thing to happen to you.
Acts 26:25-27
But Sha'ul said, "No, I am not 'crazy,' Festus, your Excellency; on the contrary, I am speaking words of truth and sanity. For the king understands these matters, so to him I express myself freely, because I am sure that none of these things have been hidden from him. After all, they didn't happen in some back alley. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe!"
It is good to notice how Paul handled Festus in that he reacted in kindness but then turned right back to address the king. It is easy to get distracted from the work of the kingdom by the actions of others but we must be disciplined and focused on the things that matter.
Acts 26:28 & 29
Agrippa said to Sha'ul, "In this short time, you're trying to convince me to become Messianic?" Sha'ul replied, "Whether it takes a short time or a long time, I wish to God that not only you, but also everyone hearing me today, might become just like me except for these chains!"
Evidently the Holy Spirit was working on Agrippa as he asked Paul about his motives for speaking. It is interesting to note that Paul told him that his goal was for all who heard his testimony to come to faith in Jesus Christ. That should be our goal as well and the reason that we share our testimonies.
Acts 26:30-32
Then the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and the others sitting with them. After they had left, they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing that deserves either death or prison." And Agrippa said to Festus, "If he hadn't appealed to the Emperor, he could have been released."
Paul gave his testimony and completed his purpose there. It was clear to everyone that he was not guilty of anything but he was to be sent on to Rome. This is the same thing that happened to Jesus, in that, everyone could see that He was innocent and yet they crucified Him.