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Acts 26

Paul’s defense presents his witness to the risen Jesus as obedience to God and fulfillment of Israel’s promised hope.

Paul stands in chains before King Agrippa and Governor Festus, answering accusations brought against him by Jewish opponents. He traces his life from strict Pharisee and persecutor of Christians to witness of the risen Jesus. His defense centers on God’s promise to Israel and the commission Jesus gave him on the road to Damascus. Festus interrupts, Agrippa faces a direct appeal, and the hearing ends with both rulers finding no grounds for death or imprisonment.

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1Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defense.
2“I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you today concerning all the things the Jews accuse me of,
3especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
4“Indeed, all the Jews know my way of life from my youth up, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem;
5having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6Now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,
7which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa!
8Why is it judged incredible with you if God does raise the dead?
9“I myself most certainly thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10I also did this in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.
11Punishing them often in all the synagogues, I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
12“Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests,
13at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me.
14When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15“I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
16But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will reveal to you;
17delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you,
18to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
22Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen,
23how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.”
24As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!”
25But he said, “I am not crazy, most excellent Festus, but boldly declare words of truth and reasonableness.
26For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner.
27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”
28Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?”
29Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.”
30The king rose up with the governor and Bernice, and those who sat with them.
31When they had withdrawn, they spoke to one another, saying, “This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.”
32Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Acts 26:18Jesus defines Paul’s mission through a transfer from Satan’s power to God, with forgiveness and an inheritance through faith.
Acts 26:20Paul describes repentance as turning to God with deeds that fit that turn, across Jewish and Gentile audiences.
Acts 26:22Paul credits God’s help for his continued witness and grounds his message in what Moses and the prophets foretold.
Where this chapter reaches

Isaiah shares the imagery of opened eyes and light reaching the nations, while Luke shares the connection between the Messiah’s suffering, resurrection, and the proclamation of repentance. Colossians shares the language of rescue from darkness, forgiveness, and an inheritance among God’s people.

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After reading the whole chapter

What stands out about how Paul names his past violence while explaining his present obedience?

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How does Paul’s appeal to Agrippa shape your understanding of his purpose in this hearing?

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Questions people ask about Acts 26

What does “kick against the goads” mean in Acts 26?

A goad was a pointed stick used to direct an animal pulling a load. Kicking against it brought pain while resisting direction. Jesus uses this image to describe Saul’s resistance as he persecutes Jesus’ followers. The phrase shows that Saul’s campaign places him in conflict with Jesus himself.

Was Agrippa almost persuaded to become a Christian?

Agrippa’s reply asks whether Paul is trying to make him a Christian with little persuasion. His tone is uncertain: the words could express surprise, irony, or a guarded response. The chapter records no conversion. Paul answers by expressing his desire that everyone listening would share his faith, without his chains.

What are “works worthy of repentance” in Acts 26:20?

The phrase describes deeds that fit a person’s turning to God. Paul presents these deeds as part of the response he preached in both Jewish and Gentile settings. Verse 18 locates forgiveness and a place among God’s people in faith in Jesus; verse 20 describes conduct consistent with repentance.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).