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Selected Verse: Acts 26:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 26:1	Strong Concordance	Then [1161] Agrippa [67] said [5346] unto [4314] Paul [3972], Thou [4671] art permitted [2010] to speak [3004] for [5228] thyself [4572]. Then [5119] Paul [3972] stretched forth [1614] the hand [5495], and answered for himself [626]:
	King James	Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
PAUL'S DEFENSE OF HIMSELF BEFORE KING AGRIPPA, WHO PRONOUNCES HIM INNOCENT, BUT CONCLUDES THAT THE APPEAL TO CÃ†SAR MUST BE CARRIED OUT. (Acts 26:1-32) Agrippa said--Being a king he appears to have presided. Paul stretched forth the hand--chained to a soldier (Act 26:29, and see on Act 12:6).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

PAUL'S DEFENSE OF HIMSELF BEFORE KING AGRIPPA, WHO PRONOUNCES HIM INNOCENT, BUT CONCLUDES THAT THE APPEAL TO CÃ†SAR MUST BE CARRIED OUT. (Acts 26:1-32)

Agrippa said--Being a king he appears to have presided.

Paul stretched forth the hand--chained to a soldier (Act 26:29, and see on Act 12:6).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Then Paul stretched forth the hand - See the notes on Act 21:40. This was the usual posture of orators or public speakers. The ancient statues are commonly made in this way, with the right hand extended. The dress of the ancients favored this. The long and loose robe, or outer garment, was fastened usually with a hook or clasp on the right shoulder, and thus left the arm at full liberty. And answered for himself - It cannot be supposed that Paul expected that his defense would be attended with a release from confinement, for he had himself appealed to the Roman emperor, Act 25:11. His design in speaking before Agrippa was, doubtless: (1) To vindicate his character, and obtain Agrippa's attestation to his innocence, that thus he might allay the anger of the Jews; (2) To obtain a correct representation of the case to the emperor, as Festus had desired this in order that Agrippa might enable him to make a fair statement of the case Act 25:26-27; and, (3) To defend his own conversion, and the truth of Christianity, and to preach the gospel in the hearing of Agrippa and his attendants, with a hope that their minds might be impressed by the truth, and that they might be converted to God.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And Paul stretching forth his hand - Chained as it was: a decent expression of his own earnestness, and proper to engage the attention of his hearers; answered for himself - Not only refuting the accusations of the Jews, but enlarging upon the faith of the Gospel.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Then Paul stretched forth the hand - This act, as we have already seen on Act 21:40, was merely to gain attention; it was no rhetorical flourish, nor designed for one. From knowing, partly by descriptions, and partly by ancient statues, how orators and others who address a concourse of people stood, we can easily conceive the attitude of St. Paul. When the right hand was stretched out, the left remained under the cloak, which being thrown off the right shoulder, to give the arm the fuller liberty, it then rested on the left: under these circumstances, the hand could be stretched out gracefully, but was confined to no one attitude, though the third and fourth fingers were generally clenched.

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⁶ And [1161] when [3753] Herod [2264] would [3195] have brought [4254] him [846] forth [4254], the same [1565] night [3571] Peter [4074] was [2258] sleeping [2837] between [3342] two [1417] soldiers [4757], bound [1210] with two [1417] chains [254]: and [5037] the keepers [5441] before [4253] the door [2374] kept [5083] the prison [5438].

²⁹ And [1161] Paul [3972] said [2036], I would [302] [2172] to God [2316], that not [3756] only [3440] thou [4571], but [235] also [2532] all [3956] that hear [191] me [3450] this day [4594], were [1096] both [2532] almost [1722] [3641], and [2532] altogether [1722] [4183] such [5108] as [3697] [2504] I am [1510], except [3924] these [5130] bonds [1199].

²⁶ Of [4012] whom [3739] I have [2192] no [3756] certain [804] thing [5100] to write [1125] unto my lord [2962]. Wherefore [1352] I have brought [4254] him [846] forth [4254] before [1909] you [5216], and [2532] specially [3122] before [1909] thee [4675], O king [935] Agrippa [67], that [3704], after examination [351] had [1096], I might have [2192] somewhat [5100] to write [1125].
²⁷ For [1063] it seemeth [1380] to me [3427] unreasonable [249] to send [3992] a prisoner [1198], and [2532] not withal [3361] to signify [4591] the crimes [156] laid against [2596] him [846].

¹¹ For [1063] if [1487] [3303] I be an offender [91], or [2532] have committed [4238] any thing [5100] worthy [514] of death [2288], I refuse [3868] not [3756] to die [599]: but [1161] if [1487] there be [2076] none [3762] of these things [3739] whereof these [3778] accuse [2723] me [3450], no man [3762] may [1410] deliver [5483] me [3165] unto them [846]. I appeal unto [1941] Caesar [2541].

⁴⁰ And [1161] when he had given [2010] him [846] licence [2010], Paul [3972] stood [2476] on [1909] the stairs [304], and beckoned [2678] with the hand [5495] unto the people [2992]. And [1161] when there was made [1096] a great [4183] silence [4602], he spake [4377] unto them in the Hebrew [1446] tongue [1258], saying [3004],