Paul's Resurrection Testimony Before King Agrippa
Paul's defense before King Agrippa II in Acts 26 represents the climax of his legal proceedings in Caesarea, where the apostle articulated his testimony about Christ's resurrection before Jewish royalty. Agrippa, having arrived "with great pomp" alongside Bernice and the city's leading men [3], presided over this hearing at the request of Governor Festus, who needed clarity on charges to send with Paul's appeal to Caesar [6].
The Setting and Purpose
Festus had inherited Paul's case from Felix but found himself unable to formulate coherent accusations. He admitted to Agrippa, "Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord" [2]. The hearing served primarily to help Festus draft his report, since "there was no clear charge against Paul, and Festus himself believed Paul had done nothing deserving death" [6]. Yet the occasion also fulfilled Christ's prophecy that his followers would testify "before governors and kings" [5].
Paul's Strategic Defense
When Agrippa granted permission to speak [1], Paul began by acknowledging the king's expertise: "I think myself happy, King Agrippa" [10]. This was no mere flattery—Agrippa's familiarity with Jewish customs and law distinguished him from the Roman officials who had previously misunderstood Paul's case [10]. The apostle then structured his defense around a central claim: his preaching was "completely consistent with the Jewish faith," particularly regarding "the fulfillment of Jewish hopes for the resurrection" [8].
Paul's argument echoed the psalmist's resolve: "I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed" [4]. Standing physically chained to a soldier [7], Paul stretched forth his hand and delivered what one tradition calls an "eloquent defense" [8], tracing his Pharisaic training, his persecution of Christians, and his Damascus road encounter with the risen Christ.
The Resurrection as Central Testimony
Tertullian later observed that the apostles' primary task was "to preach God in Christ," and that "they introduced nothing new concerning the resurrection, besides announcing it to the glory of Christ" [9]. Paul's testimony before Agrippa exemplified this apostolic pattern—the resurrection was not a novel doctrine but the fulfillment of Israel's Scriptures, now vindicated in Jesus. Agrippa ultimately pronounced Paul innocent, though the appeal to Caesar had to proceed [7].
Sources
- Acts “Acts 26:1 (BBE) — And Agrippa said to Paul, You may put your cause before us. Then Paul, stretching out his hand, made his answer, saying:”
- Acts “Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, that, after examination, I may have something to write. -- Acts 25:26”
- Acts “Acts 25:23 (DRC) — And on the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice were come with great pomp and had entered into the hall of audience with the tribunes and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment, Paul was brought forth.”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:44: I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings,.... As very likely he did before Saul and his courtiers, before the king of Achish and the princes of the Philistines, when as yet he was not a king himself; and when he was come to the throne, such kings as came to visit him, instead of talking with them about affairs of state, he spoke of the Scriptures, and of the excellent things they bear witness of; and such a practice he determined to pursue and continue in; and will not be ashamed; of the testimonies of God, and of the truths contained in them; and of spea”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 25:13: We have here the preparation that was made for another hearing of Paul before King Agrippa, not in order to his giving judgment upon him, but in order to his giving advice concerning him, or rather only to gratify his curiosity. Christ had said, concerning his followers, that they should be brought before governors and kings. In the former part of this chapter Paul was brought before Festus the governor, here before Agrippa the king, for a testimony to both. Here is, I. The kind and friendly visit which king Agrippa made to Festus, now upon his coming into the gove”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 25:23: 25:23-27 Paul’s hearing before King Agrippa was accompanied by all the pomp and circumstance appropriate for an official royal visit. The main purpose of the hearing was for Agrippa to advise Festus on what he should write in the appeal to Caesar, for there was no clear charge against Paul, and Festus himself believed Paul had done nothing deserving death.”
- Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 26 (introduction): PAUL'S DEFENSE OF HIMSELF BEFORE KING AGRIPPA, WHO PRONOUNCES HIM INNOCENT, BUT CONCLUDES THAT THE APPEAL TO CÆSAR 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).”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 26:1: 26:1-23 In his eloquent defense before King Agrippa, Paul argued that his preaching was completely consistent with the Jewish faith. The defense begins with a courteous acknowledgement of Agrippa’s competence to hear the evidence (26:2-3), outlines the nature of Paul’s background, Jewish training, and membership in the Pharisees (26:4-5), and explains that the charges against him are merely for believing the fulfillment of Jewish hopes for the resurrection (26:6-8). Paul then tells the story of his conversion from strong opponent of Christianity (26:9-11) through a ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. XXXIX.--ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE AFFORDED TO US IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. (part 1): The Acts of the Apostles, too, attest[2] the resurrection. Now the apostles had nothing else to do, at least among the Jews, than to-explain[3] the Old Testament and confirm[4] the New, and above all, to preach God in Christ. Consequently they introduced nothing new concerning the resurrection, besides announcing it to the glory of Christ: in every other respect it had been already received in simple and intelligent faith, without any question as to what sort of resurrection it was t”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 26:2: 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 upo”