Acts 26:16-32

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:31

And when they were gone aside ,.... Into some apartment adjoining to the judgment hall: they talked between themselves ; that the common people might not hear their debates, and the result of them, and what were their sentiments concerning Paul and his case: saying, this man doth nothing worthy of death , or of bonds; according to the Roman laws; for as yet there were no laws among the Romans against the Christians as such, or against their professing and preaching Christ. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 26:32

Then said Agrippa unto Festus ,.... As declaring his sense, and by way of advice and counsel; but not as determining anything himself, for that lay in the breast of Festus, the Roman governor and judge: this man might have been set at liberty ; from his bonds and imprisonment; for ought that appears against him, or any law to the contrary: if he had not appealed unto Caesar ; wherefore an inferior judge could not release him; but so it was ordered in divine Providence, that he should... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 26:16

But rise, etc. - The particulars mentioned here, and in the two following verses, are not given in Acts 9:1-9 , nor in Acts 22:6-11 , 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 were several others which then took place, that he had no opportunity of mentioning, because there was nothing in succeeding occurrences which rendered it necessary to produce them. To make thee a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 with salvation to the Gentiles. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 του Σατανα , From the authority and domination of Satan; for as the kingdom of darkness is his kingdom, so those who live in this darkness are under his dominion; and he has authority and right over them. The blessed Gospel... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 26:20

But showed first unto them of Damascus - He appears to have preached at Damascus, and in the neighboring parts of Arabia Deserta, for about three years; and afterwards he went up to Jerusalem. See Galatians 1:17 , Galatians 1:18 ; and see the note on Acts 9:23 . That they should repent - Be deeply humbled for their past iniquities, and turn to God as their Judge and Savior, avoiding all idolatry and all sin; and thus do works meet for repentance; that is, show by their conduct that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 26:21

For these causes the Jews - went about to kill me - These causes may be reduced to four heads: - He had maintained the resurrection of the dead. The resurrection of Christ, whom they had crucified and slain. That this Jesus was the promised Messiah. 4. He had offered salvation to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews. He does not mention the accusation of having defiled the temple, nor of disloyalty to the Roman government; probably, because his adversaries had abandoned these charges... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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, notwithstanding the opposition I have met with both from Jews and Gentiles. And these continual interpositions of God show me that I have not mistaken my call, and encourage me to go forward in my work. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 of Isaiah with their system, they formed the childish notion of two Messiahs - Messiah ben David, who should reign, conquer, and triumph; and Messiah ben Ephraim, who should suffer and be put to death. A distinction which... read more

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