Acts 26:29

"And Paul said,. would to God, that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as. am, except these bonds" "Whether with little or with much" "This was. direct answer to Agrippa's words 'in. little'. Paul is saying, 'With one sermon or. hundred, with little effort or great'" (Reese p. 886). If the response by Agrippa had been filled with sarcasm ("you think to convert me with one sermon?"), Paul's response quickly dulled such. pointed remark. Paul once again puts Agrippa on the defensive. After all, what is wrong with being convinced by one good sermon? Is that embarrassing? Or is it more embarrassing to need 100 sermons to convince you? But note that Paul does not mind. Whether Agrippa needs one lesson or 100, he still wants him to become. Christian. "Not thou only" Which should remind Agrippa that God wants everyone saved and that God doesn't have any favorites. "But also all that hear me this day" Even men like Festus, who had just called him. mad man. "Might" The language of freewill. "Become such as. am" Paul was 100% sold on the validity of the gospel message. In contrast to modern denominational preachers who try to argue that any sincere religious person will end up in heaven, or that one can be saved without becoming. Christian, Paul was convinced that only one lifestyle, and one faith (Ephesians 4:5) was acceptable to God. "Except these bonds" Paul did not have. spirit of revenge, and neither did he wish that the tables were turned and that Agrippa or Festus were in prison and he was free.