Acts 26:1-23 Paul's defense before Agrippa.

Acts 26:1-3 The charges by the Jews are not recorded here; it is not clear when they were presented to Agrippa, but given the Roman penchant for bureaucratic procedure, there must have been some occasion on which they were allowed to make their case. Doubtless it would have paralleled the charges that Tertullus brought before Felix. (Acts 24:2-8) Paul begins with the usual pandering to the ego of the Roman ruler.

          Agrippa should have been an expert in all customs of the Jews, since he was from a line that had ruled the Jews for close to one hundred years. He was also known as Herod Agrippa II, the seventh generation from Herod the Great, whose reign began in 37 BC. Bernice was the sister of Herod Agrippa II. Not mentioned in scripture is that Drusilla, who was the wife of Felix (Antonius Felix), and also the sister of Herod Agrippa II. The transition in power from Felix to Festus dates that trial to approximately 58 AD. Agrippa was on close terms with Josephus and provided him with much information for his book on the Antiquities of the Jews.

Acts 26:4-18 Paul continues with a brief summary of his life as a zealous and devout Jew, his persecution of the church, his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, and his conversion to following Christ. He gave a detailed and explicit version of the words spoken to him by Christ in that encounter, specifically of his commission to go and preach the gospel to the Gentiles. These words spoken to him by Christ were not recorded by Luke in Acts 9:4-6. It seems clear that these events were indelibly marked in Saul's memory since he once again brings up the stoning of Stephen (Acts 26:10), and the goad that Jesus referred to (Acts 26:14) must have referred to his conscience, which Paul repeatedly said was clean (Acts 23:1, 24:16).

Acts 26:19-23 Paul continues with a description of his ministry declaring the gospel to the Gentiles, and then explaining what the gospel that he presents consists of. That Jesus suffered and died and rose from the dead, thus establishing the kingdom of God and fulfilling all that was promised in the Law and the Prophets, and that people, both Jews and Gentiles, should repent and turn to Him.