Acts 26:2

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“I consider myself fortunate, that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,

King James Version (1611)
I thinke my selfe happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answere for my selfe this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Iewes:

King James Version
I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

English Standard Version
"I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,

New American Standard Bible
"Regarding all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today,

New Century Version
He said, "King Agrippa, I am very blessed to stand before you and will answer all the charges the evil people make against me.

Amplified Bible
"I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, since it is before you that I am to make my defense today regarding all the charges brought against me by the Jews,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today;

Legacy Standard Bible
"Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I regard myself blessed, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today;

Berean Standard Bible
"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews,

Contemporary English Version
King Agrippa, I am glad for this chance to defend myself before you today on all these charges that my own people have brought against me.

Complete Jewish Bible
"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that it is before you today that I am defending myself against all the charges made against me by Jews,

Darby Translation
I count myself happy, king Agrippa, in having to answer to-day before thee concerning all of which I am accused by the Jews,

Easy-to-Read Version
He said, "King Agrippa, I feel fortunate that I can stand here before you today and answer all the charges these Jews have made against me.

Geneva Bible (1587)
I thinke my selfe happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answere this day before thee of all the things whereof I am accused of the Iewes.

George Lamsa Translation
In view of all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself blessed, O King A-grip''pa, to defend myself today before you.

Good News Translation
"King Agrippa! I consider myself fortunate that today I am to defend myself before you from all the things these Jews accuse me of,

Lexham English Bible
"Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that before you I am about to defend myself today,

Literal Translation
Concerning all of which I am accused by Jews, king Agrippa, I count myself happy being about to make defense before you today,

American Standard Version
I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defence before thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews:

Bible in Basic English
In my opinion I am happy, King Agrippa, to be able to give my answer before you today to all these things which the Jews say against me:

Hebrew Names Version
"I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you this day concerning all the things whereof I am accused by the Yehudim,

International Standard Version
"I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, that I can defend myself today against all the accusations of the Jews,

Etheridge Translation
Of all that I am accused by the Jihudoyee, king Agripos, I consider myself happy, that before you I (have to) make defence.

Murdock Translation
In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, king Agrippa, I consider myself highly favored, that I may this day make defence before thee:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
I thynke my selfe happy, king Agrippa, because I shall aunswere this day before thee, of all the thynges whereof I am accused of the Iewes:

English Revised Version
I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defence before thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews:

World English Bible
"I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you this day concerning all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And Paul, stretching forth his hand, made his defence. I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am this day to make my defence before thee, concerning all those things whereof I am accused by the Jews,

Weymouth's New Testament
"As regards all the accusations brought against me by the Jews," he said, "I think myself fortunate, King Agrippa, in being about to defend myself to-day before you,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Of alle thingis, in whiche Y am accusid of the Jewis, thou king Agrippa, Y gesse me blessid at thee, whanne Y schal defende me this dai;

Update Bible Version
I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you this day concerning all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews:

Webster's Bible Translation
I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee, concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews:

New English Translation
"Regarding all the things I have been accused of by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today,

New King James Version
"I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews,

New Living Translation
"I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders,

New Life Bible
"King Agrippa, the Jews have said many things against me. I am happy to be able to tell you my side of the story.

New Revised Standard
"I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Concerning all things of which I am accused by Jews, King Agrippa, I have been counting myself happy, that, before thee, am I about, this day, to be making my defence;

Douay-Rheims Bible
I think myself happy, O king Agrippa, that I am to answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews.

Revised Standard Version
"I think myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
I thynke my selfe happy kynge Agrippa because I shall answere this daye before the of all the thinges wherof I am accused of ye Iewes

Young's Literal Translation
`Concerning all things of which I am accused by Jews, king Agrippa, I have thought myself happy, being about to make a defence before thee to-day,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I thinke my selfe happye (O kynge Agrippa) because I shal answere this daye before the, of all the thinges wherof I am accused of the Iewes:

Mace New Testament (1729)
I think myself happy, king Agrippa, in having this opportunity of vindicating myself in your presence, from every thing the Jews have laid to my charge:

Simplified Cowboy Version
"King Agrippa, I'm glad I am still alive to tell you my story and defend my good name against these baseless accusations.

Contextual Overview

¹Agrippa spoke directly to Paul: "Go ahead—tell us about yourself." Paul took the stand and told his story. "I can't think of anyone, King Agrippa, before whom I'd rather be answering all these Jewish accusations than you, knowing how well you are acquainted with Jewish ways and all our family quarrels. ⁴"From the time of my youth, my life has been lived among my own people in Jerusalem. Practically every Jew in town who watched me grow up—and if they were willing to stick their necks out they'd tell you in person—knows that I lived as a strict Pharisee, the most demanding branch of our religion. It's because I believed it and took it seriously, committed myself heart and soul to what God promised my ancestors—the identical hope, mind you, that the twelve tribes have lived for night and day all these centuries—it's because I have held on to this tested and tried hope that I'm being called on the carpet by the Jews. They should be the ones standing trial here, not me! For the life of me, I can't see why it's a criminal offense to believe that God raises the dead. ⁹"I admit that I didn't always hold to this position. For a time I thought it was my duty to oppose this Jesus of Nazareth with all my might. Backed with the full authority of the high priests, I threw these believers—I had no idea they were God's people!—into the Jerusalem jail right and left, and whenever it came to a vote, I voted for their execution. I stormed through their meeting places, bullying them into cursing Jesus, a one-man terror obsessed with obliterating these people. And then I started on the towns outside Jerusalem.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: Psalms 119:46 - speak Matthew 10:19 - it shall Luke 21:12 - before Acts 18:14 - when Acts 19:33 - his Acts 22:1 - my Acts 25:26 - specially Acts 26:1 - answered Acts 26:19 - O king Acts 26:26 - the king

Cross-References

Genesis 12:1
God told Abram: "Leave your country, your family, and your father's home for a land that I will show you.

Genesis 12:7
God appeared to Abram and said, "I will give this land to your children." Abram built an altar at the place God had appeared to him.

Genesis 17:1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, God showed up and said to him, "I am The Strong God, live entirely before me, live to the hilt! I'll make a covenant between us and I'll give you a huge family."

Genesis 18:1
God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. It was the hottest part of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing. He ran from his tent to greet them and bowed before them.

Genesis 26:10
Abimelech said, "But think of what you might have done to us! Given a little more time, one of the men might have slept with your wife; you would have been responsible for bringing guilt down on us."

Psalms 37:3
Get insurance with God and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last. Keep company with God , get in on the best.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I think myself happy, King Agrippa,.... This was an handsome and artificial way of introducing his defense, and of gaining the affection and attention of the king, and yet was not a mere compliment; for it had been his unhappiness hitherto, that his case was not understood; neither Lysias the chief captain, nor the governors Felix and Festus, knew anything of the rites and customs of the Jews, and could not tell what to make of the questions of their law, of which Paul was accused: but it was otherwise with Agrippa, he was master of them, and this the apostle looked upon as a circumstance in his own favour:

because I shall answer for myself this day before thee; not before him as a judge, for Festus was judge, but in his presence; and he being versed in things of this kind, was capable of informing, counselling, directing, and assisting the judge, in what was proper to be done; wherefore it was an advantage to the apostle to plead his own cause, and vindicate himself before such a person from the charges exhibited against him:

touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews; such as violation of the law, profanation of the temple, contempt of the people of the Jews and their customs, and of blasphemy, and sedition; all which he was able to clear himself from, and doubted not but he should do it to the entire satisfaction of the king.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I think myself happy - I esteem it a favor and a privilege to be permitted to make my defense before one acquainted with Jewish customs and opinions. His defense, on former occasions, had been before Roman magistrates, who had little acquaintance with the opinions and customs of the Jews; who were not disposed to listen to the discussion of the points of difference between him and them, and who looked upon all their controversies with contempt. See Acts 24:25. They were, therefore, little qualified to decide a question which was closely connected with the Jewish customs and doctrines; and Paul now rejoiced to know that he was before one who, from his acquaintance with the Jewish customs and belief, would be able to appreciate his arguments. Paul was not now on his trial, but he was to defend himself, or state his cause, so that Agrippa might be able to aid Festus in transmitting a true account of the case to the Roman emperor. It was his interest and duty, therefore, to defend himself as well as possible, and to put him in possession of all the facts in the case. His defense is, consequently, made up chiefly of a most eloquent statement of the facts just as they had occurred.

I shall answer - I shall be permitted to make a statement, or to defend myself.

Touching ... - Respecting.

Whereof I am accused of the Jews - By the Jews. The matters of the accusation were his being a mover of sedition, a ringleader of the Christians, and a profaner of the temple, Acts 24:5-6.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 26:2. I think myself happy — As if he had said, This is a peculiarly fortunate circumstance in my favour, that I am called to make my defense before a judge so intelligent, and so well acquainted with the laws and customs of our country. It may be necessary just to observe that this Agrippa was king of Trachonitis, a region which lay on the north of Palestine, on the east side of Jordan, and south of Damascus. For his possessions, Acts 25:13; Acts 25:13.