What is the meaning of Acts 26:28?
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.
