Acts 26:21-27:12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 26:12-23

All who believe a God, and have a reverence for his sovereignty, must acknowledge that those who speak and act by his direction, and by warrant from him, are not to be opposed; for that is fighting against God. Now Paul here, by a plain and faithful narrative of matters of fact, makes it out to this august assembly that he had an immediate call from heaven to preach the gospel of Christ to the Gentile world, which was the thing that exasperated the Jews against him. He here shows, I. That he... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 26:19-23

26:19-23 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. But first of all to those in Damascus, and to Jerusalem, and throughout the whole land of Judaea and to the Gentiles, I brought the message to repent and turn to God and do deeds to match their repentance. Because of this the Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to do away with me. So then because I have received the help of God up to this day, I stand bearing witness to great and small, saying nothing beyond... read more

John Gill

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

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 26:21

Verse 21− 21.They went about to kill me. He complaineth in this place of the iniquity of his adversaries, that it may thereby appear that their cause and conscience were both evil. − (623) For if Paul had offended they might have gone to law with him; and even there should they have stand [stood] in better state, seeing they did far pass him both in favor and authority. Therefore, their madness doth testify that they are destitute of reason. Whereas Paul saith that he was saved by the help of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 26:1-26

The apology. We are struck with a contrast between the conduct of our Lord when he stood before the bar of Caiaphas and of Pontius Pilate, and that of St. Paul when he was brought before Festus and Agrippa. It is written of Jesus, when the Jews accused him before Caiaphas, that "he held his peace." And again, as he stood before Pontius Pilate the governor, when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, that he answered nothing. And even when Pilate himself appealed to him, he gave... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 26:1-32

Paul before Festus and Agrippa. His address may be divided as follows:— I. THE REMARKABLE STORY OF HIS LIFE . ( Acts 26:1-18 .) 1. His life in Judaism. He had been brought up, as all knew, in the strictest sect of his religion, a Pharisee. Paul's example, it has been remarked, lends no countenance to the fallacy that dissolute students make the best preachers. He had been conscientious from the first, a friend of virtue, and a servant of the Law. He had not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 26:1-32

The apostolic defense in the presence of Festus and Agrippa. I. THE BEARING OF THE MAN . Dignity, gentleness, courtesy—a true Christian gentleman. II. THE APPEAL TO FACTS . The incontrovertible evidence. "Once I was a persecutor; now I am a disciple." III. THE PROCLAMATION OF A DIVINE MISSION . Showing that there was reason in his firmness and confidence; he was divinely sent and would be divinely cared for. IV. THE CHALLENGE TO TRY ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 26:20-23

The penalty and the resources of a devoted life. There is no trace of egotism, in the offensive sense of the word, in this simple sketch of the apostle's course. He is simply telling the truth concerning himself out of a pure heart. But in so doing he gives us the picture of— I. A DEVOTED LIFE . 1. He began at the earliest possible time to carry out the Master's will—"showed first unto them of Damascus" ( Acts 26:20 ). 2. He labored in the most difficult and dangerous... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 26:21

This cause for these causes, A.V.; seized for caught, A.V.; essayed for went about, A.V. For this cause . Here again is a most telling statement. "I have spent my life in trying to persuade men to repent and turn to God, and for doing so the Jews seek to kill me. Can this be right? Will not you, O King Agrippa, protect me from such an unjust requital?" To kill me ; διαχειρίσασθαι , here and in Acts 5:30 only in the New Testament; not in the LXX ., but in Polybius, and... read more

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