Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
Parallel translations
- WEB Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defense.
- BSB Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
- 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 9:15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
- Acts 26:2I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
- John 7:51Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?
- Prov 1:24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
- Prov 18:17He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
- Prov 18:13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
- Rom 10:21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
- Acts 25:16To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
- Acts 22:1Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
- Ezek 16:27Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.