Then Agrippa said to PaulKing Agrippa II, the last of the Herodian dynasty, was well-versed in Jewish customs and controversies. His presence in this narrative highlights the intersection of Roman political authority and Jewish religious tradition. Agrippa's familiarity with Jewish law and prophecy provided him with a unique perspective on Paul's message. This encounter occurs during Paul's defense before Agrippa, Festus, and other dignitaries, showcasing the spread of the Gospel to influential leaders.
“Can you persuade me
The question reflects Agrippa's awareness of Paul's intent to convert him to Christianity. The Greek term used here implies a rhetorical question, suggesting skepticism or perhaps a challenge. This moment underscores the tension between the Gospel's transformative power and human resistance. It also highlights the role of persuasion in evangelism, as seen in Paul's missionary journeys and his epistles, where he often reasons with his audience.
in such a short time
Agrippa's remark may indicate surprise at Paul's boldness and the brevity of his appeal. The phrase suggests the urgency and immediacy of the Gospel message, which calls for a response. This echoes other instances in Acts where the message of Christ prompts immediate decisions, such as the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:36-38) and the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:30-33).
to become a Christian?”
The term "Christian" was first used in Antioch (Acts 11:26) and was likely a term of derision. Here, it signifies the identity and community of those who follow Christ. Agrippa's use of the term indicates an awareness of the distinctiveness of the Christian faith. This moment reflects the early church's challenges in defining its identity amidst Jewish and Roman contexts. The question also points to the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy that His followers would testify before kings (Matthew 10:18).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
PaulThe apostle who is giving his defense before King Agrippa. Paul is a central figure in the New Testament, known for his missionary journeys and epistles.
2.
King AgrippaHerod Agrippa II, the Jewish king who is hearing Paul's defense. He is knowledgeable about Jewish customs and the prophets.
3.
FestusThe Roman governor who has brought Paul before Agrippa. Festus is seeking Agrippa's opinion on Paul's case.
4.
CaesareaThe location where this event takes place. It is a significant city in Roman Judea, serving as the administrative center.
5.
Paul's DefenseThe event where Paul is defending himself against accusations and sharing his testimony of conversion and mission.
Teaching Points
The Power of TestimonyPaul's testimony is a powerful tool for witnessing. Believers should be ready to share their personal accounts of faith to impact others.
The Role of Persuasion in EvangelismWhile persuasion is important, conversion is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit. Christians should present the Gospel clearly and trust God for the results.
Understanding the AudiencePaul tailors his message to Agrippa's knowledge of Jewish customs and prophecies. Believers should consider their audience's background when sharing the Gospel.
Boldness in WitnessingDespite being on trial, Paul speaks boldly about his faith. Christians are encouraged to be courageous in sharing their beliefs, regardless of circumstances.
The Urgency of the GospelAgrippa's response highlights the urgency of making a decision about Christ. Believers should communicate the importance of responding to the Gospel message.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Acts 26:28?
2.How does Acts 26:28 challenge us to share our faith boldly today?
3.What can we learn from Paul's approach in Acts 26:28 for evangelism?
4.How does Acts 26:28 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20?
5.In what ways can we respond to skepticism like Agrippa's in Acts 26:28?
6.How can Acts 26:28 inspire us to pray for non-believers' hearts to open?
7.What did Agrippa mean by "Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?"
8.How does Acts 26:28 reflect on the power of personal testimony in evangelism?
9.What historical context surrounds Paul's trial before King Agrippa in Acts 26?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 26?
11.Why does Acts record different versions of Paul's conversion story?
12.Who was Herod Agrippa II?
13.Why does Acts contradict Paul's letters in key details, such as his visits to Jerusalem?
14.What did Paul do between his third and fourth journeys?What Does Acts 26:28 Mean
Then Agrippa said to Paul• Paul is standing in chains before King Agrippa II and Governor Festus (Acts 25:23–27).
• The apostle has just finished recounting his Damascus-road conversion and the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 26:12-23).
• Scripture shows God placing His witnesses before rulers so His word reaches every level of society, just as Jesus foretold inMatthew 10:18 and as Paul later affirms inPhilippians 1:12-13.
• Agrippa’s response proves he has understood Paul’s message;Romans 10:17 reminds us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
Can you persuade me• The verb “persuade” reveals that saving faith involves both the mind and the will—God presents truth, and people decide whether to receive it (Acts 17:2-4).
• Paul relies on the Holy Spirit to convict, not on rhetoric (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).
• Earlier in Acts we see crowds “pierced to the heart” (Acts 2:37) and a jailer asking, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). Agrippa’s remark shows the same inner struggle.
in such a short time• The gospel is powerful enough to save instantly; the thief on the cross believed within minutes (Luke 23:42-43).
• At the same time, people often delay; Felix told Paul, “When I find time I will listen to you” (Acts 24:25).
• Scripture warns against postponing decision: “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Agrippa voices the tension between immediacy and hesitation.
to become a Christian?• “Christian” appears only here, inActs 11:26, and in1 Peter 4:16, always identifying those who openly follow Christ.
• Paul’s aim is not self-defense but the salvation of his hearers (Acts 26:29).
• Becoming a Christian means repentance, forgiveness, and new life (Acts 3:19;2 Corinthians 5:17), yet it also involves reproach and possible suffering (1 Peter 4:16).
• Agrippa recognizes that accepting Paul’s message would require a public break with his world, echoing Jesus’ call to count the cost (Luke 14:26-33).
summaryAgrippa’s remark captures the drama of the moment: confronted with clear testimony about the risen Christ, he senses the persuasive pull of truth yet hesitates under the weight of the decision.Acts 26:28 highlights the immediacy of the gospel’s call, the sufficiency of God’s word to convince any heart, and the necessity of a personal, timely response.
(28)
Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.--At the cost of giving up a familiar and impressive text, it must be admitted that the Greek words cannot possibly bear the meaning which is thus put upon them. The words run literally,
In,or
with, a little thou persuadest me; and this may be completed by, "with little
speech," "with little
labour," or "little
evidence." So in
Ephesians 3:3 we have precisely the same phrase rendered "in few
words." Agrippa's words, accordingly, are the expression, not of a half-belief, but of a cynical sneer.
Thou art trying to make a Christian of me with very few words, on very slender grounds,would be the nearest paraphrase of his derisive answer to St. Paul's appeal. It was. it will be seen, evasive as well as derisive; he shrinks from a direct answer to the question that had been put to him. In his use of the Latin term "Christian" (see Note on
Acts 11:26) we may trace, perhaps, the effect of Roman associations. There certainly were Christian communities at Rome at this time (Romans 16
passim)
,and they would naturally be described there as they had been at Antioch. It may be noted that, of the prominent English versions, Wiclif gives "in a little thing," Tyndal and Cranmer "somewhat," the Rhemish "a little;" the Geneva agrees with the present version in "almost." The meaning "somewhat," or "a little," is a tenable one. but
Ephesians 3:3. as already stated, is in favour of that given above. The phrase was, perhaps, in itself ambiguous, and St. Paul accepts in one sense what had been spoken in another.
Verse 28.- And for
then, A.V.;
with but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian for
almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian, A.V.
With but little persuasion (
ἐν ὀλίγῳ κ.τ.λ.). This saying of Agrippa's is obscure and variously explained. The A.V., following Chrysostom, Beza, Luther, etc., takes
ἐν ὀλίγῳ to mean "within a little" or" almost," like the Hebrew
כִּמְעַט, which is very suitable to the context. The corresponding
ἐν πόλλῳ, or, as otherwise read,
ἐνμεγάλῳ would then mean, as in the A.V., "altogether," and the sense of the whole passage is striking and appropriate. But there is some difficulty in getting Otis meaning out of the words. The natural way of expressing it would be
παρ ὀλίγον, or
ὀλίγου, or
ὀλίγον δεῖ. Hence many other commentators take
ἐν ὀλίγῳ to mean "in a short time," and the sense to be either "you are making short work of my conversion: you are persuading me to become a Christian as suddenly as you yourself did;" with a corresponding sense for
ἐν πόλλῳ, "in a long time,"
i.e. whether it takes a short or a long time, I pray God you may become a Christian like myself;" or, "you are soon persuading me," you will soon persuade me if you go on any longer in this strain. Others, again, preferring the reading
ἐν μεγάλῳ in ver. 29, take
ἐν ὀλίγῳ to mean "with little trouble," or "with few words," as
Ephesians 3:5 (understanding
λόγῳ or
πόνῳ), "lightly" (Alford), and then the opposite
ἐν μεγάλῳ would mean "with much trouble," "with many words,"
i.e. "with difficulty." But this is rather a fiat rendering. Another difference of opinion is whether the words of Agrippa are to be taken ironically, or sarcastically, or jestingly, or whether they are to be taken seriously, as the words of a man shaken in his convictions and seriously impressed by what he had heard. The whole turn of the narrative seems to favor the latter view. Another view, started by Chrysostom, is that Agrippa used the words in one sense, and St. Paul (mistakenly or advisedly) took them in another. Another possible explanation is that
ἐν ὀλίγῳ is here used in the sense in which Thucydides employs the phrase (it. 86 and Ephesians 4:26),
Τὴν ἐν ὀλίγῳ ναυμάχιαν and
Ἐν ὀλίγῳστρατοπεδευομένος, viz. "in a narrow place;" and that Agrippa meant to say, "By your appeal to the prophets you press me hard; you have got me into a corner. I am in a
στενοχωρία, a ' narrow room; ' I hardly know how to get out of it." The
ἐν μεγάλῳ would then mean a" large room," a
εὐρυχωρία (
Psalm 30:8). This would suppose
ἐν ὀλίγῳ and
ἐν μεγάλῳ to have become proverbial phrases.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Thenδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.AgrippaἈγρίππας(Agrippas)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 67:Agrippa, i.e. Herod Agrippa II. Apparently from agrios and hippos; wild-horse tamer; Agrippas, one of the Herods.[said] toπρὸς(pros)Preposition
Strong's 4314:To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.Paul,Παῦλον(Paulon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3972:Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.“Can you persuadeπείθεις(peitheis)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 3982:A primary verb; to convince; by analogy, to pacify or conciliate; reflexively or passively, to assent, to rely.meμε(me)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.inἘν(En)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.such a short [time]ὀλίγῳ(oligō)Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3641:Puny; especially neuter somewhat.to becomeποιῆσαι(poiēsai)Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4160:(a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.a Christian?”Χριστιανὸν(Christianon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5546:A Christian. From Christos; a Christian, i.e. Follower of Christ.
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NT Apostles: Acts 26:28 Agrippa said to Paul With a little (Acts of the Apostles Ac) 
