Bible Commentaries

¹ I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

(1) To have a skilful judge is a great and singular gift of God.

² My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

(2) Paul divides the history of his life into two times: for the first he calls his adversaries as witnesses: for the latter, the fathers and Prophets.

Which ^a knew me from ^b the beginning, if they would testify, that after the ^c most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

(a) That I was, and where, and how I lived.

(b) That my parents were Pharisees.

(c) The sect of the Pharisees was the most exquisite amongst all the sects of the Jews, for it was better than all the rest.

³ And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

(3) There are three chief and principal witnesses of true doctrine: God, the true fathers, and the consent of the true Church of God.

⁴ Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

(4) He proves the resurrection of the dead, first by the power of God, then by the resurrection of Christ, of which he is a sufficient witness.

Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave ^d my voice against [them].

(d) I consented to and allowed their actions: for he was not a judge.

And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and ^e compelled [them] to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted [them] even unto strange cities.

(e) By extreme punishment.

⁵ To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

(5) The end of the Gospel is to save those who are brought to the knowledge of Christ, and are justified and sanctified in him, being laid hold on by faith.

⁶ Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

(6) Paul alleges God to be author of the office of his apostleship, and that God's grace is a witness.

⁷ Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to ^f small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

(7) Christ is the end of the Law and the Prophets.

(f) To everyone.

That Christ should ^g suffer, [and] that he should be the ^h first that should rise from the dead, and should shew ⁱ light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

(g) That Christ would not be such a king as the Jews dreamed of, but one appointed to bear our miseries, and the punishment of our sins.

(h) The first of those who are raised from the dead.

(i) Life, yea and that a most blessed life which will be endless: and this is set against darkness, which almost in all languages sometimes signifies death, and sometimes misery and calamity.

⁸ And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

(8) The wisdom of God is madness to fools, yet nonetheless we must boldly confirm the truth.

For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a ^k corner.

(k) Secretly and privately.

⁹ King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

(9) Paul, as it were forgetting that he stood a prisoner to defend his cause, does not forget the office of his apostleship.

And Paul said, ^l I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

(l) I would to God that not only almost, but thoroughly and altogether, both you and all that hear me this day, might be made as I am, only except for my bonds.

¹⁰ And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

(10) Paul is solemnly acquitted, and yet not dismissed.