Acts 26:1-8
The Christian message stands in continuity with Israel’s promises and rests on God’s power to raise the dead.
1 Agrippa 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 that I am accused by the Jews,
3 especially 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;
5 having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 Now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,
7 which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa!
8 Why is it judged incredible with you, if God does raise the dead?
The Christian message stands in continuity with Israel’s promises and rests on God’s power to raise the dead.
To introduce Paul’s defense before Agrippa and to center the issue on the promise and hope of resurrection.
This passage opens Paul’s formal defense before Agrippa. Luke presents Paul as composed and deliberate, structuring his speech around covenantal promise rather than personal grievance. The focus immediately centers on resurrection hope grounded in Israel’s Scriptures.
Agrippa II possessed familiarity with Jewish theology and temple matters. Paul strategically addresses him as one competent to evaluate scriptural claims. The charge against Paul centers on resurrection hope, a theme deeply rooted in Jewish expectation. Roman authorities largely perceived the dispute as internal religious debate.
Paul Before Agrippa: The Risen Christ Sends Light to Jews and Gentiles
Acts 26 shows that Paul’s Gentile mission flows from Israel’s resurrection hope fulfilled in the suffering and risen Messiah, who sends his witness to turn people from darkness to light, from Satan to God, and into forgiveness and sanctified inheritance by faith.