Atos 26

Theophylact of Ohrid

Atos 26:2

Paul said: "I consider myself fortunate that today I can defend myself before you in everything of which the Jews accuse me." He spoke not with flattery (God forbid!), but wishing to bring benefit to the king. And the one who had just been treated as being on trial partly influenced the judge and captivated him, because Agrippa said in the presence of all: "You almost persuade me to become a Christian" (v. 28). — Commentary on Acts

Atos 26:3

"All the more so, since you know all the customs and disputed opinions of the Jews." Knowing this, Paul should have been afraid of being judged by a man who knows everything; but not to reject such a judge, who knows in detail everything that happened, means having a clear conscience. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 26:4

"All the Jews know; they have known about me for a long time." This means: the Jews know the truth, but do not want to testify to it, and willfully lie and sin against him. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 26:5

"I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest teaching of our religion." It is remarkable that the Pharisees too were heretics, although they studied and understood the Scriptures better than all other Jewish sects. They understood better, but not truly, because they did not possess a true understanding of the Scriptures. Thus, diligence can investigate and discuss a matter with subtlety, yet it cannot fully comprehend its essence; on the contrary, it happens that a person is deceived by his own mind. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 26:9

Paul says "indeed, I too thought," for it seemed to him that this is how it should have been. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 26:11

"Many times I punished them." Incited by the devil and demons, he says, many, like madmen, committed many absurdities; but I, perhaps, was more frenzied than they, since I was doing evil of my own will. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 26:13

Reporting about a radiance brighter than sensible light and considering it impossible to liken the light of Jesus to sunlight, Paul, in order to convey the phenomenon in a way that human hearing can receive, says: this light far surpasses sunlight. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 26:19

I was convinced through this vision, says Paul. By this vision the Lord converted me and thus persuaded me not to delay the matter. This vision is a pure contemplation, surpassing human powers; it cannot be seen by a carnal man unless his eyes are opened by a superhuman power. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 26:22

What the prophets said about the suffering of Christ is known, and it is needless to speak of it; but what Moses foretold is evident from what he said as if from the person of Jacob to Judah: "He stooped down, he lay down as a lion… who shall rouse him?" (Gen. 49:9). Here he means the death and resurrection of Christ. But Moses also foretold of the suffering: "Thy life shall hang in doubt before thee" (Deut. 28:66). — Commentary on Acts

Atos 26:23

"Having risen first from the dead." Jesus was the first to rise and no longer dies, whereas those raised by Him or by His disciples died again in expectation of the future general resurrection. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 26:24

Since Paul constantly directed his speech to the king, Festus, being somewhat offended and seeing Paul's boldness, said out of vexation and anger: "You are out of your mind, Paul!" Paul then explains to him the reason why he directed his word to the king. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 26:26

Saying that "this was not done in a corner," Paul is referring to the cross and the resurrection, since the teaching about this had spread throughout the whole world. He says this as proof that Agrippa knew everything; and he almost says to the rest of those present as well: "You too ought to have known this," because such is the meaning of the following words. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 26:29

"I would pray to God that whether in little or in much, not only you but also all who hear me today might become such as I am, except for these chains." Although chains for the name of Christ are worthy of glory, Paul "added 'except for these chains,'" accommodating himself to the understanding of those present. — What are you saying, blessed Paul, "except for these chains?" What boldness do you have, then, if you are ashamed of and shrink from chains? Do you not everywhere in your epistles boast of your chains and call yourself a prisoner? And do you not everywhere display your fetters before us in place of a diadem? So then, what has happened that you push the chains away from yourself? I myself, he says, do not push them away from me, I am not ashamed of them, but I speak this way out of condescension to the weakness of my hearers, because they cannot yet contain my boast. And from the Lord I learned that "no one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment" (Mk. 2:21). That is why I spoke thus. — Commentary on Acts