CHAPTER XXVI. _Paul answers for himself before Agrippa, to whom he pays a true_ _compliment, in order to secure a favourable hearing_, 1-3; _gives an account of his education from his youth up_, 4, 5; _shows that the Jews persecuted him for his maintaining the_ _hope of the resurrection_, 6-8;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:2. _I THINK MYSELF HAPPY_] As if he had said, This is a peculiarly fortunate circumstance in my favour, that I am called to make my defense before a judge so intelligent, and so well acquainted with the laws and customs of our country. It may be necessary just to observe that this Agri... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:4. _MY MANNER OF LIFE_, c.] The apostle means to state that, though born in Tarsus, he had a regular Jewish education, having been sent up to Jerusalem for that purpose but at what age does not appear; probably about twelve, for at this age the male children were probably brought to th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:5. _AFTER THE MOST STRAITEST SECT_] That is, the Pharisees; who were reputed the _strictest_ in their _doctrines_, and in their _moral practices_, of all the sects then among the Jews. The sects were the _Pharisees_, _Sadducees_, and _Essenes_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:6. _FOR THE HOPE OF THE PROMISE_] This does not appear to mean, _the hope of the Messiah_, as some have imagined, but _the hope_ _of the resurrection of the dead_, to which the apostle referred in Acts 23:6, where he says to the Jewish council, (from which the Roman governor took him,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:8. _THAT GOD SHOULD RAISE THE DEAD?_] As Agrippa believed in the true God, and knew that one of his attributes was _omnipotence_, he could not believe that the resurrection of the dead was an _impossible_ thing; and to this belief of his the apostle appeals; and the more especially, be... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:10. _MANY OF THE SAINTS_] From what is said in this verse, it seems that Paul, before his conversion, was invested with much power: he imprisoned the Christians; punished many in various synagogues; compelled them to blaspheme-to renounce, and, perhaps, to execrate Christ, in order to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:11. _BEING EXCEEDINGLY MAD AGAINST THEM_] Only a _madman_ will persecute another because of his differing from him in religious opinion; and the fiercest persecutor is he who should be deemed the most furious madman. _UNTO STRANGE CITIES._] Places out of the jurisdiction of the Jews,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:12. _WHEREUPON AS I WENT TO DAMASCUS_] See the whole account of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus explained at large, in _Clarke's notes on "_Acts 9:2_"_, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:16. _BUT RISE_, c.] The particulars mentioned here, and in the two following verses, are not given in Acts 9:1, nor in Acts 22:6, where he gives an account of his conversion. He has detailed the different circumstances of that important event, as he saw it necessary and perhaps there w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:17. _DELIVERING THEE FROM THE PEOPLE_] From the _Jews-and_ from _the Gentiles_, put here in opposition to the _Jews_; and both meaning _mankind_ at large, wheresoever the providence of God might send him. But he was to be delivered from the malice of the _Jews_, that he might be sent w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:18. _TO OPEN THEIR EYES_] To be the instrument of informing their _understanding_ in the things of God. _TO TURN_ THEM _FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT_] From _heathenism_ and _superstition_ to the _knowledge_ and _worship_ of the true God. FROM _THE POWER OF SATAN UNTO GOD_] Της εξουσιας το... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:19. _I WAS NOT DISOBEDIENT UNTO THE HEAVENLY VISION_] This, O Agrippa, was the cause of my conversion from my prejudices and mal-practices against the doctrine of Christ. The vision was from heaven; I received it as such, and began to preach the faith which I had before persecuted.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:20. _BUT SHOWED FIRST UNTO THEM OF DAMASCUS_] He appears to have preached at Damascus, and in the neighbouring parts of Arabia Deserta, for about three years; and afterwards he went up to Jerusalem. See Galatians 1:17; and Acts 9:23, Acts 9:23. _THAT THEY SHOULD REPENT_] Be deeply hu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:21. _FOR THESE CAUSES THE JEWS - WENT ABOUT TO KILL_ ME.] These _causes_ may be reduced to _four_ heads:- 1. He had maintained the _resurrection of the dead_. 2. The _resurrection of Christ_, whom they had crucified and slain. 3. That this _Jesus was the promised_ _Messiah_. 4. He... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:22. _HAVING - OBTAINED HELP OF GOD_] According to the gracious promise made to him: see Acts 26:17. _WITNESSING BOTH TO SMALL AND GREAT_] Preaching before kings, rulers, priests, and peasants; fearing no evil, though ever surrounded with evils; nor slackening in my duty, notwithstandi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:23. _THAT CHRIST SHOULD SUFFER_] That _the Christ_, or _Messiah_, should suffer. This, though fully revealed in the prophets, the prejudices of the Jews would not permit them to receive: they expected their Messiah to be a _glorious secular_ _prince_; and, to reconcile the fifty-third... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:24. _PAUL, THOU ART BESIDE THYSELF_] "Thou art mad, Paul!" "Thy great learning hath turned thee into a madman." As we sometimes say, _thou art cracked, and thy brain is turned_. By the τα πολλα γραμματα it is likely that Festus meant no more than this, that Paul had got such a vast va... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:25. _I AM NOT MAD, MOST NOBLE FESTUS_] This most sensible, appropriate, and modest answer, was the fullest proof he could give of his _sound sense_ and _discretion_. The title, κρατιστε, _most noble_, or _most excellent_, which he gives to Festus, shows at once that he was far above i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:26. _BEFORE WHOM ALSO I SPEAK FREELY_] This is a farther judicious apology for himself and his discourse. As if he had said: Conscious that the king understands all these subjects well, being fully versed in the law and the prophets, I have used the utmost freedom of speech, and have m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:27. _BELIEVEST THOU THE PROPHETS?_] Having made his elegant compliment and vindication to Festus, he turns to Agrippa; and, with this strong _appeal_ to his religious feeling, says, _Believest_ _thou the prophets_? and immediately anticipates his reply, and, with great address, speaks... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:28. _ALMOST THOU PERSUADEST ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN._] Εν ολιγῳ με πειθεις ΧριϚιανον γενεσθαι. This declaration was almost the necessary consequence of the apostle's reasoning, and Agrippa's faith. If he believed the prophets, see Acts 26:22; Acts 26:23, and believed that Paul's applica... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:29. _I WOULD TO GOD_, c.] Ευξαιμην αν τῳ Θεῳ, και εν ολιγῳ και εν πολλῳ - So fully am I persuaded of the infinite excellence of Christianity, and so truly happy am I in possession of it, that _I_ _most ardently wish that not only thou, but this whole council,_ _were not only almos... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Acts 26:32. _THEN SAID AGRIPPA_, c.] The king himself, who had participated in the strongest emotions on the occasion, feels himself prompted to wish the apostle's immediate liberation but this was now rendered impracticable, because he had appealed to Caesar; the appeal was no doubt register... [ Continue Reading ]