Translations
Original
Notes
"Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?": This remark might have been ironic, expressing a lack of belief. It might have been making fun of Paul, or a dismissal of Paul's challenge. It might also have been a comment on how well Paul could persuade. Or it could have been a genuine question about Paul's intention. It seems best to understand King Agrippa's reply as intentionally trying to avoid the question. He did not want to admit he believed the prophets, because Paul had made a strong case (26:27).
The next step would be to believe in Jesus as the promised Christ, which Agrippa did not want to do. On the other hand, he did not want to say he did not believe the prophets. This would cause his Jewish subjects to feel isolated, and Agrippa wanted their allegiance. His lack of a committed response emphasizes his discomfort with Paul's testimony.
Paul's question put King Agrippa in a difficult position. If Agrippa said he believed the prophets, Paul would press the Christian message. If Agrippa denied belief in the prophets, he would upset the devout Jews who were listening.
Agrippa knew Paul was not crazy and that Paul's testimony about Jesus was historically accurate (26:26). So, Agrippa avoided answering Paul's question and refused to consider the claims of Christ. Agrippa said that Paul's statement was too short for him to make a responsible decision.
Events
- Paul goes before Agrippac. AD 56
People
Agrippa: Tetrarch who heard Paul's defense in Caesarea Jesus: The Son of God and Savior of the world Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles, author of many NT epistles
Glossary
Book of the Acts of the Apostles Christian Herod, Herodian Family Paul the Apostle Procurator Titus Caesar
Topics
Christian: Believers Called Court: Accused Spoke in his own Defense Irony: Herod Agrippa Ii to Paul Kings: The Gospel to be Preached To Religious Zeal: Exemplified by Paul Sarcasm: Herod Agrippa Ii to Paul Titles and Names of Saints: Christians