Acts 26:20 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 26:20

See Acts 9:20-23. The 20th verse contains a summary of his labors in obedience to the command of the Lord Jesus. His argument is that the Lord Jesus had from heaven commanded him to do this, and that he had done no more than to obey his injunction. The word “then” in this verse is supplied by our translators, and is not necessary to the proper explanation of the passage. It would seem from that word that he had not preached “to the Gentiles” until after he had preached “at Jerusalem and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 26:19-20

Acts 26:19-20. Whereupon Or, from that time, as οθεν may be rendered, that ever-memorable time, through the grace of God, giving me inclination and power to obey; I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision With which he was pleased thus miraculously to favour me. But showed first unto them of Damascus Preached first to the Jews there, to which place I was going when the vision was granted me; and afterward to those at Jerusalem, and throughout all Judea In the country towns and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 26:1-32

Paul again declared innocent (25:13-26:32)Among those who came to Caesarea to pay their respects to the new governor was Herod Agrippa II. This man was the son of Herod Agrippa I (the governor mentioned in 12:1-4,20-23) and the brother of Bernice and Drusilla (13; cf. 24:24; see ‘The New Testament World’). He was Rome’s appointed ruler over certain areas in the far north of Palestine, but he had no power in the region governed by Festus. He was, however, an expert on Jewish affairs (see... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 26:20

of = in. Greek. en . App-104 . throughout . Greek. eis . App-104 . repent . Greek. metanoeo. App-111 . meet = worthy of, or answering to. Compare Matthew 3:8 . repentance . Greek. metanoia. App-111 . read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 26:20

20. showed . . . to them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem—omitting Arabia; because, beginning with the Jews, his object was to mention first the places where his former hatred of the name of Christ was best known: the mention of the Gentiles, so unpalatable to his audience, is reserved to the last. repent and return to God, and do works meet for repentance—a brief description of conversion and its proper fruits, suggested, probably, by the Baptist's teaching (Luke 3:7; Luke 3:8). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 26:1-23

Paul’s speech to the dignitaries 26:1-23Paul was not on trial here. When he had appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:11), he had guaranteed that his next trial would be before the emperor. This was just a hearing designed to acquaint Agrippa with Paul’s case so Agrippa could give Festus help in understanding it and communicating it to the emperor."This testimony of Paul is not a defense of himself. It is a declaration of the gospel with the evident purpose of winning Agrippa and the others present to... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 26:19-20

We should probably understand Acts 26:20 as a general description of Paul’s ministry rather than as a strictly chronological reference in view of Acts 9:20-30 and Galatians 1:18-24."Repent" again means essentially to change the mind. Note the distinction between repenting and performing deeds appropriate to repentance that Paul made in Acts 26:20."What is repentance? It is a complete change of attitude. It is a right-about-face. Here is a man who is going on living in open, flagrant sin, and he... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 26:1-32

Defence before Agrippa1-32. St. Paul before Agrippa. This speech, though in form a defence to the Jews, is really intended by St. Luke to be St. Paul’s defence to the world—an apology for his whole life and work.Analysis. Opening compliment to Agrippa (Acts 26:2-3); the Apostle’s orthodox Pharisaic education (Acts 26:4-5); he is really called in question because he believes in the hope of all orthodox Jews, the coming of the Messiah, and the Resurrection (Acts 26:6-8); his persecution of the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Acts 26:20

(20) But shewed . . .—The verb is in the tense which sums up a long-continued activity, and stands in the Greek after the enumeration of those to whom the Apostle preached: But first to them of Damascus . . . and to the Gentiles I went on showing . . .Throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles.—The words refer, in the first instance, to the visit after St. Paul’s conversion (see Notes on Acts 9:29; Galatians 1:17-18); but the special mention of the Gentiles as following upon... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Acts 26:1-32

Reasons for Doubt Acts 26:8 That is a new apologetic; that is a Strategic move of the first order. This is new to me; that is a masterstroke. What a sagacious statesman was the Apostle Paul! Hitherto we had been thinking that it was the place of faith to give reasons; the Apostle pushes the war to the other side, and says, You must give reasons for your doubt. Why, that opens a wide field of criticism and observation and profitable comment. It is the Apostle who says, Stand up, and defend... read more