Acts 26:28

_ _ Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian, [en (G1722 ) _ oligoo (G3641_) me ( G3165 ) peitheis (G3982)]. There is certainly some difficulty in this translation, there being no other clear instance of this meaning of the phrase. Some of the best critics think the only true sense of the words to be, 'With a little persuadest thou me,' which they understand as an ironical response to the apostolic question-to this effect, 'Ah, Paul, thou art for making me a Christian rather too summarily-I am not to be so easily turned.' But the apostle's reply seems clearly to show that he at least did not so understand the king

− 28._And Agrippa said unto Paul. _The apostle prevailed thus far at least, that he wrung out of king Agrippa a confession, though it were not voluntary, as those use to yield who can no longer resist the truth, or, at least, to show some token of assent. Agrippa’s meaning is, that he will not willingly become a Christian; yea, that he will not be one at all; and yet that he is not able to gainsay, but that he is drawn after a sort against his will. Whereby it appeareth how great the pride of man’s nature is until it be brought under to obey by the Spirit of God. − Interpreters expound this, εν ολιγω diversely. Valla thought that it ought to be translated thus, Thou dost almost make me a Christian. Erasmus doth translate it _a little. _The old interpreter dealeth more plainly − (629) _in a little; _because, translating it word for word, he left it to th

24-32 It becomes us, on all occasions, to speak the words of truth and soberness, and then we need not be troubled at the unjust censures of men. Active and laborious followers of the gospel often have been despised as dreamers or madmen, for believing such doctrines and such wonderful facts; and for attesting that the same faith and diligence, and an experience like their own, are necessary to all men, whatever their rank, in order to their salvation. But apostles and prophets, and the Son of God himself, were exposed to this charge; and none need be moved thereby, when Divine grace has made them wise unto salvation. Agrippa saw a great deal of reason for Christianity. His understanding and judgment were for the time convinced, but his heart was not changed. And his conduct and temper were widely different from the humility and spirituality of the gospel. Many are almost persuaded to b...

Verse Acts 26:28. _ALMOST THOU PERSUADEST ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN._] Εν ολιγῳ με πειθεις ΧριϚιανον γενεσθαι. This declaration was almost the necessary consequence of the apostle's reasoning, and Agrippa's faith. If he believed the prophets, see Acts 26:22; Acts 26:23, and believed that Paul's application of their words to Christ Jesus was correct, he must acknowledge the _truth_ of the Christian religion; but he might _choose_ whether he would _embrace_ and _confess_ this truth, or not. However, the sudden appeal to his religious faith extorts from him the declaration, _Thou hast nearly persuaded_ _me to embrace Christianity_. How it could have entered into the mind of any man, who carefully considere...

THEN AGRIPPA SAID UNTO PAUL - He could not deny that he believed the prophecies in the Old Testament. He could not deny that the argument was a strong one that they had been fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. He could not deny that the evidence of the miraculous interposition of God in the conversion of Paul was overwhelming; and instead, therefore, of charging him, as Festus had done, with derangement, he candidly and honestly avows the impression which the proof had made on his mind. ALMOST - Except a very little - ἐν ὀλίγῳ en oligō. Thou hast nearly convinced me that Christianity is true, and persuaded me to embrace it. The arguments of Paul had been so rational; the appeal which he had made to his belief of the prophets had been so irresistible, that he had been nearly convinced of the truth of Christianity. We are to remember:...

EXPOSITION ACTS 26:1 And for _then, _A.V.; _his _for _the, _A.V.; _made his _defense_ _for _answered for himself, _A.V. AGRIPPA SAID. It was by the courtesy of Festus that Agrippa thus took the chief place. It was, perhaps, with the like courtesy that Agrippa said, impersonally, THOU ART PERMITTED, without specifying whether by himself or by Festus. STRETCHED FORTH HIS HAND. The action of an orator, rendered in this case still more impressive by the chains which hung upon his arms. Luke here relates what he saw. MADE HIS DEFENSE (ἀπελογεῖτο); Acts 25:8; Acts 24:10, note....

THEN AGRIPPA SAID UNTO PAUL,.... Either seriously or ironically; rather the former, arising from the convictions of his mind, which he could not stifle nor conceal: ALMOST THOU PERSUADEST ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN; to profess faith in Jesus as the Messiah, to embrace his doctrine, and submit to his ordinances, which is to be a Christian, at least externally: and when he says "almost", or "in a little", his meaning is, that within a little, or very near, he was of being persuaded to embrace Christianity; or in a little matter, and in some respects; or rather in a few words, and in a small space of time, Paul had strangely wrought upon him to incline to the Christian religion; though the first sense, that he was almost, or within a little of being a Christian, seems to be the best, as appears by the apostle's reply to it: what it is to be a real Christian, Acts 11:26. An almost Chri

Three times we have in Holy Writ a graphic report of the conversion of Paul. This may be accounted for partly from its being one of the most remarkable events of early sacred history, Paul having had a greater effect upon the Christian Church than any other living man. At the same time I think it teaches us that the Holy Spirit sets especial store by the facts connected with this very remarkable conversion. If he gives it three times, in the sacred volume, we ought to give it a triple attention, and see if we cannot learn therefrom. Acts 26:1. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa. because I shall never answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews. Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and

ALMOST R.V. _"With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian"_ The answer might be paraphrased: "It will require more than this," etc, or, "A little more and you will make," etc....

ACTS 26:28 poih/sai {A} The difficulty of capturing the nuances intended in this verse is notorious. Without entering into the lexical problems (e.g. does evn ovli,gw| mean “in a short time” or “with little effort”?), from the standpoint of textual criticism the reading that is supported by î74vid a B 33 81 syrhmg copbo _al_ seems to account best for the other readings, which appear to be attempts at smoothing the meaning. Thus, instead of pei,qeij codex Alexandrinus reads pei,qh| (“you _trust_ [or, _think_] that you can make me a Christian”), which is adopted by Lachmann, Alford, A. C. Clark, though the verb seems to have b...