Acts 26:16-32

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:21

For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple ,.... He means the Asiatic Jews, who finding him in the temple, laid hold on him, and dragged him out of it: and, as he says, went about to kill me; for no other reason, but for preaching to the Gentiles, and for preaching the above doctrines to them: what he refers to is in Acts 21:27 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:22

Having therefore obtained help of God ,.... Both to preach the Gospel, and escape danger; for he had delivered him many a time both from Jews and Gentiles, according to his promise, Acts 26:17 and particularly from the Asiatic Jews, when they were about to kill him, by the means of Lysias the chief captain, who rescued him out of their hands; and also from the lying in wait of the Jews to take away his life, and the various methods they used both with Felix and Festus to get him into their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:23

That Christ should suffer ,.... Great afflictions in soul and body, and death itself; this is recorded by Moses, Genesis 3:15 and is the sense of many of the types, as of the passover, brazen serpent, &c.; and of all the sacrifices which from God were appointed by him, and is the constant account of all the prophets from the beginning to the end; see Psalm 22:1 Daniel 9:26 . The sufferer is Christ, or the Messiah, not the Father, nor the Spirit, but the Word, or Son of God, and not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:24

And as he thus spake for himself ,.... Asserting the integrity and innocence of his past life and conversation, in proof of which he appealed to the Jews themselves; setting forth the prejudices to the Christian religion he had been under; declaring the heavenly vision that had appeared to him, and the divine orders he had received; alleging, that in his ministry there was an entire harmony between him, and the writings of Moses, and the prophets, for which the Jews professed a veneration;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:25

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus ,.... That is, Paul said, as the Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions read: he replied to Festus, to whom he gives his title of honour, not out of fear, nor flattery, but according to custom; and though he used him in such a reproachful manner, as if he was not himself, which he denies; nor did what he had said show anything of that kind, but the reverse, to which he appeals; but speak forth... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:26

For the king knoweth of these things ,.... Something of them, of the sufferings and resurrection of the Messiah, and of his showing light to Jews and Gentiles, as they are spoken of by Moses and the prophets, whose writings Agrippa was conversant with, and of these things as fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth; at least he had heard the report of them, how that they were said to be accomplished in him. Before whom also I speak freely ; because of the knowledge he had of these things: for I... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:27

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets ?.... What they have said concerning the person, office, sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ, and that what they have said is fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth? I know that thou believest ; that what the prophets said were true, and are accomplished. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:28

Then Agrippa said unto Paul ,.... Either seriously or ironically; rather the former, arising from the convictions of his mind, which he could not stifle nor conceal: almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian ; to profess faith in Jesus as the Messiah, to embrace his doctrine, and submit to his ordinances, which is to be a Christian, at least externally: and when he says "almost", or "in a little", his meaning is, that within a little, or very near, he was of being persuaded to embrace... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:29

And Paul said, I would to God ,.... This prayer of the apostle's shows his affection for the souls of men, and his great desire for their conversion, and also his sense of the power and grace of God, as necessary to it: that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am ; that is, his wish was that not only Agrippa, but that all that were present, were not only within a little, or in some low degree, but entirely, in the highest and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:30

And when he had thus spoken ,.... These words are omitted in the Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions: the king rose up ; from the judgment seat; that is, King Agrippa: and the governor ; the Roman governor, Festus: and Bernice : the sister of King Agrippa: and they that sat with them ; either in council, or to hear; the chief captains, and principal inhabitants of Caesarea. read more

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