Page 55 - acts_study_book4

And Agrippa [replied] to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian”
(NIV).

This is a sarcastic remark made by Agrippa to cut Paul off. He saw the close coming and did not
want to have to make the decision for or against Jesus. He is simply saying, “If I allow you to
speak any longer, I might accept Jesus.”

Act 26:29 And Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today,
might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains."

And Paul said, I would (wish) to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day (the
full crowd in the court), were (ginomai: would become) both almost, and altogether (by my few
or many words) such as I am, except these bonds.

Paul wishes they will become born again through a few or many words from him, in a little
amount of time or much. Paul will do or say whatever it takes to make them believers, but he
does not wish prison on any of them.

Act 26:30 When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and
Bernice and those who sat with them;
And when they had thus spoken, the king arose (jumped) up, and the governor, and Bernice,
and they that sat with them:

When the king jumps up, so does everyone else.
Act 26:31 and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, "This man is
doing nothing deserving of death or chains."

They now all understood Festus’ dilemma. They see Paul’s innocence and understand he is
simply in prison for a religious disagreement with the Jews. They are also angry with Festus for
allowing this to continue as long as it has. He should not have kept Paul in prison for political
expediency.

Act 26:32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had not
appealed to Caesar."

This is not true. Why doesn’t he just walk in and set Paul free? He is afraid of Paul and of
displaying weakness before the people. Paul has been in prison for two years now, and it
would be an admission of his own oversight to free Paul. Paul upset him in the courtroom, and
it would be a blow to his pride to now set Paul free. He uses Paul’s appeal to Caesar as a
scapegoat. Like Festus and Felix, he is also a weak leader.