Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Parallel translations
- WEB Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?”
- BSB Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”
- NKJV Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
- NASB Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you are going to persuade me to make a Christian of myself.”
- NLT Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”
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 responds, 'With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?'—deflecting Paul's pointed appeal.
Overview
Agrippa's famous reply, whether spoken in sarcasm, surprise, or genuine emotion, shows a man brought near to decision yet drawing back. It marks one of the early uses of 'Christian.' The verse soberly illustrates how a person can be intellectually close to the truth yet remain unconverted, a warning against almost-but-not-yet faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Acts 11:26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
- Matt 10:18And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
- Acts 24:25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
- Acts 26:29And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
- 2 Cor 4:2But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- Jas 1:23–24For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
- 1 Pet 4:16Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
- Mark 10:17–22And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
- Ezek 33:31And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
- Mark 6:20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 26:28 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.