Acts 26:29 — meaning, Hebrew and Greek word study, commentary
Acts 26:29
And 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.
to hear (in various senses) · verb — present active participle, accusative plural masculine
me
μοῦmoû
G3450
of me
day
σήμερονsēmeron
G4594
on the (i.e. this) day (or night current or just passed) · adverb
were
γενέσθαιgenesthai
G1096
to cause to be ("gen"-erate) · verb — second aorist middle deponent infinitive
both
καὶkai
G2532
and · conjunction
almost
ὀλίγῳoligō
G3641
puny (in extent · adjective — dative singular neuter
and
καὶkai
G2532
and · conjunction
altogether
πολύςpolýs
G4183
(singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many
such
τοιούτουςtoioutous
G5108
truly this · demonstrative pronoun — accusative plural masculine
as
ὁποῖοςhopoios
G3697
of what kind that · interrogative pronoun — nominative singular masculine
I
κἀγώkagṓ
G2504
so also the dative case
am
εἰμιeimi
G1510
I exist (used only when emphatic) · verb — present active indicative, 1st person singular
except
παρεκτὸςparektos
G3924
near outside · preposition
these
τούτωνtoútōn
G5130
of (from or concerning) these (persons or things)
bonds
δεσμῶνdesmōn
G1199
a band · noun — genitive plural masculine
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
Ephesians 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Acts 21:33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done…
Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Exodus 16:3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh p…
Numbers 11:29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spiri…
2 Samuel 18:33 And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my…
2 Kings 5:3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on Acts 26:24–end
We have reason to think that Paul had a great deal more to say in defence of the gospel he preached, and for the honour of it, and to recommend it to the good opinion of this noble audience; he had just fallen upon that which was the life of the cause - the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and here he is in his element; now he warms more than before, his mouth is opened towards them, his heart is enlarged. Lead him but to this subject, and let him have leave to go on, and he will never know when to conclude; for the power of Christ's death, and the fellowship of his sufferings, are with him inexhaustible subjects. It was a thousand pities then that he should be interrupted, as he is h…
I would to God, &c.--What unequalled magnanimity does this speech breathe! Only his Master ever towered above this.
not only . . . almost . . . but altogether--or, "whether soon or late," or "with little or much difficulty."
except these bonds--doubtless holding up his two chained hands (see on Act 12:6): which in closing such a noble utterance must have had an electrical effect.
Adam Clarke on Acts 26:29
I would to God, etc. - Ευξαιμην αν τῳ Θεῳ, και εν ολιγῳ και εν πολλῳ - So fully am I persuaded of the infinite excellence of Christianity, and so truly happy am I in possession of it, that I most ardently wish that not only thou, but this whole council, were not only almost, but altogether, such as I am, these Chains excepted. Thus, while his heart glows with affection for their best interests, he wishes that they might enjoy all his blessings, if possible, without being obliged to bear any cross on the account. His holding up his chain, which was probably now detached from the soldier's arm, and wrapped about his own, must have made a powerful impression on the minds of his audience. In…
And he said not, I do not wish that, but, "I pray that not only thou, but also all that hear." Mark how free from flattery his speech is.-"I pray that this day they may be all such as I am, except these bonds." He, the man that glories in his bonds, that puts them forth as a golden chain, deprecates them for these men: for they were as yet too weak in their minds, and it was rather in condescension that he so spake. For what could be better than those bonds which always in his Epistles he prefers to all things else, saying, "Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ:" and again, "On this account I am bound with this chain, but the word of God is not bound;" and, "Even unto bonds, as an evil-doer." The punishment was twofold. For if indeed he had been so bound, as with a view to his good, the thing would have carried with it some consolation: but now he is bound both "as an evil-doer," and as with a view to very ill consequences; yet for none of these things cared he.
For Paul acted thus, not from distress or fear, but from an abundance of wisdom and spiritual understanding. And how this was, I proceed to explain. He was addressing a Gentile, and an unbeliever, who knew nothing of our matters. Hence he was unwilling to introduce him by way of disagreeable things, but as he said, "I became to them that are without law, as without law;" so he acted in the present instance. His meaning is, "If the Gentile hear of bonds and tribulations, he will straightway be taking flight; since he knows not the power of bonds. First, let him become a believer; let him taste of the word preached, and then he will even of himself hasten towards these bonds." I have heard the Lord saying, "No man putteth a piece of new cloth into an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old wine-skins; else the wine-skins burst." The soul of this man is an old garment: an old wine-skin. It is not renewed by the faith, nor renovated by the grace of the Spirit. It is yet weak and earthly. It affects the things of this life. It flutters eagerly after worldly show. It loves a glory that is present. Should he hear at once, even from the first, that if he becomes a Christian he will become immediately a prisoner, and will be encompassed with a chain; feeling ashamed and indignant, he will recoil from the word preached. Therefore, saith he, "Except these bonds." Not as deprecating the bonds themselves, God forbid! But condescending to the other's infirmity; for he himself loved and welcomed his bonds, even as a woman fond of ornament doth her jewels of gold.
Dictionary and topics
Agrippa II. — Son of the foregoing, was born at Rome, A.D. 27. He was the brother of Bernice and Drusilla. The Emperor Claudius (A.D. 48) invested him with the office of superintendent of the Temple of Jerusalem,…
Call — (1.) To cry for help, hence to pray (Gen. 4:26). Thus men are said to “call upon the name of the Lord” (Acts 2:21; 7:59; 9:14; Rom. 10:12; 1 Cor. 1:2). (2.) God calls with respect to men when he…
Zeal · Should be exhibited: In desiring the salvation of others — Should be exhibited: In desiring the salvation of others
Zeal, Religious · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
And Paul said, I would to God,.... This prayer of the apostle's shows his affection for the souls of men, and his great desire for their conversion, and also his sense of the power and grace of God, as necessary to it:
that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am; that is, his wish was that not only Agrippa, but that all that were present, were not only within a little, or in some low degree, but entirely, in the highest and fullest sense, Christians, as he was; that they knew as much of Christ, and had as much faith in him, and love to him, as he had, and were as ready to serve and obey him: he does not wish that Agrippa and the rest…
Acts 26:24-32
24. And as Paul answered for himself, Festus saith with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 25. And Paul said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and sobriety. 26. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom I also speak freely: for I think that none of these things are hidden from him; for this was not done in a corner. 27. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28. And Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou briefly persuadest me to become a Christian. 29. And Paul saith, Would to God that not only thou, but also all which hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether…
Paul’s bold answer shows his quickness in repartee. He challenges Agrippa and his whole audience about the value of knowing Christ and making a personal commitment to him.
Wherefore Paul also fittingly says to him: "I would pray to God even for a little while," and the things that follow. For example, that it is my earnest desire that all should become Christians, and this is my prayer to God. Since I am ready both for many words and for few to preach the faith in Christ, and with work and labor, and immediately. For work and labor in teaching and preaching are in no way counted against me, but it is the same to me to work or not, and to spend much time in proclaiming or little, provided that I see some turning to Christ. He said these things while at once showing his own eagerness and zeal, and at the same time calling to that man, as if he wished both to hear more and to receive more instruction; not only would he not shrink from anything, but he was so ready, providing readiness itself, that he would even perform an act of prayer, if only he should obtain the object. The phrase "even for a little while," Agrippa?—he took instead of "almost," that is, of what was required to be small. But if anyone else, like you, Paul, discourses about divine and human matters, using spoken delivery rather than the wording or what is signified for the advantage of the speech, he put "even for a little while but also in length of days" instead of "in a few words in the contest of words," and also "in more," and he offered "I would wish you to become a Christian." So that he might say, "Both by few words and by many words I would wish you to become a Christian." For the sake of everything I am ready to do all things for your salvation, not only for yours alone, but also for those associated with you. "except for these chains." Not refraining from calling his chains his own, nor ashamed, he said this. For this indeed was to him, if anything else, worthy of glory and boast, but it looked to the opinion of those people, and yielded to their weakness: "may become," he says, "such as I am, except for these chains."
The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).
