Now Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul extended his hand and proceeded to make 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:
- 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:
- 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 to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.
- Acts 26:2“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,
- John 7:51“Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?”
- Prov 1:24Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
- Prov 18:17He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
- Prov 18:13He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
- Rom 10:21But as to Israel he says, “All day long I stretched out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
- Acts 25:16To whom I answered that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man to destruction, before the accused has met the accusers face to face, and has had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.
- Acts 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.”
- Ezek 16:27See therefore, I have stretched out my hand over you, and have diminished your portion, and delivered you to the will of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your 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.