Acts — Chapter 26

📖 Acts — Chapter 26 (KJV)

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Red lettering identifies words spoken by Jesus; it is an editorial reading aid. Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

Acts 26:1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, ^RThou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

Acts 26:2 I 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:

Acts 26:3 Especially ^Rbecause I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

Acts 26:4 My ^Rmanner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

Acts 26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, ^Rthat after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

Acts 26:6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of ^Rthe promise made of God, unto our fathers:

Acts 26:7 Unto which promise ^Rour twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

Acts 26:8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

Acts 26:9 I verily thought with myself, ^Rthat I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Acts 26:10 Which thing ^RI 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.

Acts 26:11 And ^RI punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

Acts 26:12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus ^Rwith authority and commission from the chief priests,

Acts 26:13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, ^Rabove the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

Acts 26:14 And 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 ^Rhard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Acts 26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, ^RI am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

Acts 26:16 But ^Rrise, 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;

Acts 26:17 ^RDelivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

Acts 26:18 To ^Ropen 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.

Acts 26:19 Whereupon, ^RO king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

Acts 26:20 But shewed ^Rfirst 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.

Acts 26:21 For these causes ^Rthe Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

Acts 26:22 Having therefore ^Robtained 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:

Acts 26:23 That ^RChrist 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.

Acts 26:24 And as he thus ^Rspake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

Acts 26:25 But he said, ^RI am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

Acts 26:26 For ^Rthe 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.

Acts 26:27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, ^RAlmost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Acts 26:29 And Paul said, ^RI 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.

Acts 26:30 And when he had thus spoken, ^Rthe king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

Acts 26:31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, ^RThis man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

Acts 26:32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not ^Rappealed unto Caesar.

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

Acts 26:1–11 — Paul recounts hope and earlier persecution

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Before Agrippa Paul recalls his life as a Pharisee and the promise hoped for by Israel. He asks why resurrection should seem incredible, then openly describes his former persecution of Jesus’ followers.

Key Truth: Let honest testimony include both hope and acknowledgment of wrongdoing.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Acts 26:12–23 — Jesus’ commission explains Paul’s witness

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Paul recounts the Damascus-road encounter, Jesus’ sending, and the mission to open eyes and turn people toward God. He describes obedience through repentance-bearing deeds and proclamation of the suffering and risen Christ.

Key Truth: Let received calling lead to obedience and truthful witness.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Acts 26:24–32 — Different responses meet the appeal for faith

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Festus calls Paul mad, but Paul appeals to truth and Agrippa’s knowledge and belief in the prophets. He desires the hearers’ faith without his bonds, and the officials conclude that he deserves neither death nor imprisonment.

Key Truth: Witness with concern for hearers rather than hostility toward those who disagree.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

Isaiah 49:6 — The light reaching the Gentiles connects with Paul’s description of the commission.

Isaiah 49:6 (KJV) And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

How can an honest account of received mercy lead to concern for another person’s faith?

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