There are a couple of lines in this passage that are ironically famous:
- 28 Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” (Acts 26:28 NASB)
- 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” (Acts 26:32 NASB)
I also want to highlight this statement of Paul’s about repentance.
19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.
Acts 26:19-20 NASB
Repentance is not just about feeling sorry or having regrets but is a turn away from a self-centered life to a God-centered life. And it’s evident by what we do.
I wonder if Agrippa and/or Bernice became Christian. This chapter is so interesting. I love the narrative style and Paul’s succinct summary of his ministry. I like how King Agrippa interrupts when Paul starts saying that he knows Agrippa believes the prophets. I’m left so curious about the history and context – how does Paul know Agrippa? Agrippa seems sympathetic to Paul and maybe even regretful that he appealed to Caesar. What else do we know about Agrippa? I can’t remember anything, but clearly there was something prior to this chapter.
In the bible, only Acts has any references to Agrippa. We do know that he was the last in Herod’s line. And while favored in Rome, things become so bad in Judea, that he was “expelled” by his Jewish subjects and returned to Rome to live out his life.
In noting Agrippa’s statement to Paul, I quoted from the NASB, a better translation would be the NIV’s:
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?
The ironic part of this quote is that the mis-translation is often used for sermons. Agrippa was not close to believing in fact, quite the opposite.