Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
Parallel translations
- WEB Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defense.
- KJV Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
- NKJV Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:
- NASB Now Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul extended his hand and proceeded to make his defense:
- NLT Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.” So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Agrippa grants Paul permission to speak, and Paul stretches out his hand to begin his defense. Paul commences his great testimony before the king.
Overview
With a customary gesture of formal oration, Paul begins what becomes both a legal defense and a powerful proclamation of the gospel. Addressing a king versed in Jewish matters, he will recount his conversion and call. This speech stands among the fullest accounts in Acts of how the risen Christ transformed the persecutor into an apostle.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Acts 9:15“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.
- Acts 26:2“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews,
- John 7:51“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”
- Prov 1:24Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
- Prov 18:17The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
- Prov 18:13He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
- Rom 10:21But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
- Acts 25:16I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
- Acts 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
- Ezek 16:27Therefore I stretched out My hand against you and reduced your portion. I gave you over to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd conduct.
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 26:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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