Add parallel Print Page Options

24 As Paul[a] was saying these things in his defense, Festus[b] exclaimed loudly, “You have lost your mind,[c] Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!” 25 But Paul replied,[d] “I have not lost my mind, most excellent Festus,[e] but am speaking[f] true and rational[g] words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and I am speaking freely[h] to him,[i] because I cannot believe[j] that any of these things has escaped his notice,[k] for this was not done in a corner.[l] 27 Do you believe the prophets,[m] King Agrippa?[n] I know that you believe.” 28 Agrippa[o] said to Paul, “In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?”[p] 29 Paul replied, “I pray to God that whether in a short or a long time[q] not only you but also all those who are listening to me today could become such as I am, except for these chains.”[r]

30 So the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them, 31 and as they were leaving they said to one another,[s] “This man is not doing anything deserving[t] death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa[u] said to Festus,[v] “This man could have been released[w] if he had not appealed to Caesar.”[x]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:24 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  2. Acts 26:24 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
  3. Acts 26:24 tn On the term translated “lost your mind” see BDAG 610 s.v. μαίνομαι, which has “you’re out of your mind, you’re raving, said to one whose enthusiasm seems to have outrun better judgment 26:24.”sn The expression “You have lost your mind” would be said to someone who speaks incredible things, in the opinion of the hearer. Paul’s mention of the resurrection (v. 23) was probably what prompted Festus to say this.
  4. Acts 26:25 tn Grk “said.”
  5. Acts 26:25 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
  6. Acts 26:25 tn Or “declaring.” BDAG 125 s.v. ἀποφθέγγομαι states, “speak out, declare boldly or loudly…τὶ: σωφροσύνης ῥήματα Ac 26:25.”
  7. Acts 26:25 tn BDAG 987 s.v. σωφροσύνη 1 has “gener. soundness of mind, reasonableness, rationalityἀληθείας καὶ σωφροσύνης ῥήματα true and rational words (opp. μαίνομαι) Ac 26:25.”
  8. Acts 26:26 tn BDAG 782 s.v. παρρησιάζομαι 1 states, “speak freely, openly, fearlessly…likew. in the ptc. w. a verb of saying foll.…παρρησιασάμενοι εἶπαν 13:46.—26:26.” This could refer to boldness in speaking here.
  9. Acts 26:26 tn Grk “to whom I am speaking freely.” The relative pronoun (“whom”) was replaced by the personal pronoun (“him”) to simplify the translation.
  10. Acts 26:26 tn Grk “I cannot convince myself.” BDAG 792 s.v. πείθω 3.a states, “οὐ πείθομαι w. acc. and inf. I cannot believe Ac 26:26” (see also BDAG 586 s.v. λανθάνω).
  11. Acts 26:26 tn BDAG 586 s.v. λανθάνω states, “λανθάνειν αὐτὸν τούτων οὐ πείθομαι οὐθέν I cannot bring myself to believe that any of these things has escaped his notice Ac 26:26.”
  12. Acts 26:26 tn This term refers to a hidden corner (BDAG 209 s.v. γωνία). Paul’s point is that these events to which he refers were not done in a secret, hidden place, tucked away outside of view. They were done in public for all the world to see.
  13. Acts 26:27 sn “Do you believe the prophets?” Note how Paul made the issue believing the OT prophets and God’s promise which God fulfilled in Christ. He was pushing King Agrippa toward a decision not for or against Paul’s guilt of any crime, but concerning Paul’s message.
  14. Acts 26:27 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
  15. Acts 26:28 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
  16. Acts 26:28 tn Or “In a short time you will make me a Christian.” On the difficulty of the precise nuances of Agrippa’s reply in this passage, see BDAG 791 s.v. πείθω 1.b. The point is that Paul was trying to persuade Agrippa to accept his message. If Agrippa had let Paul persuade him, he would have converted to Christianity.sn The question “In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?” was probably a ploy on Agrippa’s part to deflect Paul from his call for a decision. Note also how the tables have turned: Agrippa was brought in to hear Paul’s defense, and now ends up defending himself. The questioner is now being questioned.
  17. Acts 26:29 tn BDAG 703 s.v. ὀλίγος 2.b.β has “καὶ ἐν ὀλ. καὶ ἐν μεγάλῳ whether in a short or a long time vs. 29 (cf. B-D-F §195; GWhitaker, The Words of Agrippa to St. Paul: JTS 15, 1914, 82f; AFridrichsen, SymbOsl 14, ’35, 50; Field, Notes 141-43; s. Rob. 653).”
  18. Acts 26:29 sn Except for these chains. The chains represented Paul’s unjust suffering for the sake of the message. His point was, in effect, “I do not care how long it takes. I only hope you and everyone else hearing this would become believers in Christ, but without my unjust suffering.”
  19. Acts 26:31 tn Grk “they spoke to one another saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in English and has not been translated.
  20. Acts 26:31 tn BDAG 93 s.v. ἄξιος 1.b has “θανάτου ἢ δεσμῶν ἄ. nothing deserving death or imprisonment 23:29; 26:31.”sn Not doing anything deserving death… Here is yet another declaration of Paul’s innocence, but still no release. The portrayal shows how unjust Paul’s confinement was.
  21. Acts 26:32 sn See the note on King Agrippa in 25:13.
  22. Acts 26:32 sn See the note on Porcius Festus in 24:27.
  23. Acts 26:32 tn Or “set free.”
  24. Acts 26:32 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).sn If he had not appealed to Caesar. Ultimately Agrippa and Festus blamed what Paul himself had done in appealing to Caesar for his own continued custody. In terms of Luke’s narrative, this still appears unjust and a denial of responsibility.

24 As Paul autos was saying apologeomai these houtos things · de in his defense apologeomai, · ho Festus Phēstos said phēmi in a loud megas · ho voice phōnē, “ You are out of your mind mainomai, Paul Paulos! · ho Much polys learning gramma is driving peritrepō you sy insane eis mania!” 25 · ho But de Paul Paulos said phēmi, “ I am not ou out mainomai of my mind , most kratistos excellent Festus Phēstos, but alla true alētheia and kai rational sōphrosynē are the words rhēma that I declare apophthengomai. 26 For gar the ho king basileus knows epistamai about peri these houtos matters , and to pros him hos · kai I am speaking laleō boldly parrēsiazomai, for gar I am persuaded peithō that none outheis of these houtos things has escaped lanthanō his autos notice lanthanō, for gar this houtos was eimi not ou done prassō in en a corner gōnia. 27 Do you believe pisteuō, King basileus Agrippa Agrippas, in the ho prophets prophētēs? I know oida that hoti you believe pisteuō.” 28 · ho Then de Agrippa Agrippas said to pros · ho Paul Paulos, “ In en too oligos short a time you believe peithō you are making poieō a Christian Christianos of me egō.” 29 · ho · de Paul Paulos replied, “ I would euchomai to ho God theos that whether kai the time be short en oligos or kai long en megas, not ou only monon you sy but alla also kai all pas those ho who are listening akouō to me egō today sēmeron would also kai become ginomai as toioutos hopoios I egō am eimi, except parektos for · ho these houtos chains desmos.” 30 Then te the ho king basileus stood anistēmi up , and kai the ho governor hēgemōn · ho and te Bernice Bernikē and kai those ho sitting synkathēmai with them autos; 31 and kai after they had left anachōreō the room , they spoke laleō to pros one allēlōn another , saying legō, “ This houtos man anthrōpos is doing prassō nothing oudeis worthy axios of death thanatos or ē imprisonment desmos.” · ho 32 And de Agrippa Agrippas said phēmi to ho Festus Phēstos, “ This houtos man anthrōpos could have dynamai been set apolyō free · ho if ei he had not appealed epikaleō to Caesar Kaisar.”

Read full chapter