Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?”
- KJV Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
- BSB Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time 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 11:26When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
- Matt 10:18Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.
- Acts 24:25As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.”
- Acts 26:29Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.”
- 2 Cor 4:2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- Jas 1:23–24For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror;
- 1 Pet 4:16But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter.
- Mark 10:17–22As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
- Ezek 33:31They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.
- Mark 6:20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.
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 26:28 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.