And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Agrippa's response, "In a little," suggests he felt Paul was trying to win him over too quickly and with insufficient effort. This reveals Agrippa's dismissive attitude, implying he saw Paul's passionate plea as a casual attempt rather than a profound spiritual call. It highlights how easily one can miss the weight of truth when they're not ready to fully engage with it.
And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul has just finished a powerful defense of his faith, recounting his conversion and Jesus’ commission to preach to the Gentiles. He directly challenges King Agrippa, who is Jewish, about his belief in the prophets, asking if he believes them. Agrippa, clearly moved by Paul's earnest testimony and the logical progression of his argument, admits he is very close to being convinced, though he stops short of full commitment.
Agrippa hears Paul's powerful testimony and says, 'Almost you persuade me to be a Christian.' What does 'almost' really mean in this pivotal moment?
Agrippa's response, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian," is a crucial turning point. It's not just a casual remark, but a confession of intellectual conviction. Paul had laid out the case for Jesus, grounding it in the Old Testament prophets, a foundation Agrippa himself believed.
Acknowledging the Truth
Agrippa, a king familiar with Jewish scripture, couldn't deny the logic of Paul's argument or the evidence of his conversion. He knew Paul was speaking truth. The intellectual and evidential weight of Paul's defense had clearly impressed him. Yet, he stopped short of full commitment.
The Gap Between Knowing and Doing
The "almost" reveals a significant gap. Agrippa believed Paul's reasoning but wasn't ready to become a Christian. This is a common human struggle – understanding the truth intellectually without allowing it to transform one's life. It highlights that conviction doesn't automatically lead to conversion. There are often other factors at play, preventing the final step.
Paul's powerful defense nearly swayed Agrippa. What might have been holding this king back from taking the final step?
The word 'Christian' itself carried weight, possibly even stigma, in Agrippa's world. While Paul used it in a positive light, Agrippa, surrounded by Roman influence and royal status, might have seen embracing Christianity as a significant personal and social cost.
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Secular Considerations
Commentaries suggest Agrippa was deterred by 'secular considerations.' This could include pride, fear of shame, the potential loss of status, or the overwhelming cares of his royal position. Paul himself, in his response, mentions "these bonds," implying a desire for Agrippa and his listeners to follow Christ without the suffering that Paul endured.
The King's Dilemma
Agrippa's situation is a stark reminder that genuine faith often requires a willingness to set aside worldly concerns, pride, and comfort. It asks us to consider what 'costs' we might be unwilling to bear for our convictions. The temptation to remain 'almost persuaded' is strong when the path of full commitment seems too difficult or costly.
Understand the original words
Christianos · Greek Noun
A follower of Christ; one who belongs to the body of believers. The term originally meant "little Christs" and signifies those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Agrippa's hesitant response highlights the political and social pressures of the time. Being a Christian was not just a matter of belief, but a potentially costly social and political identity, especially for royalty.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
The life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the central figure of Christianity. This event sparked the movement that Paul would later champion.
c. AD 33-36
Early Persecution of Christians
Following Jesus' ascension, His followers began to spread the message, leading to initial opposition and persecution from Jewish authorities in Jerusalem. Stephen was martyred during this time.
c. AD 35-36
Paul's Conversion on the Road to Damascus
Saul of Tarsus, a fierce persecutor of Christians, had a dramatic encounter with the resurrected Jesus. This transformed him into a fervent apostle for the Christian faith.
c. AD 44
Death of Herod Agrippa I
The grandfather of Herod Agrippa II, this king briefly ruled Judea and persecuted Christians, even executing the apostle James. His death marked a shift in Roman administration of the region.
c. AD 58-60
Paul's Arrest and Imprisonment in Caesarea
Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and imprisoned for over two years in Caesarea Maritima, awaiting trial. During this time, he was brought before various officials, including Felix and Festus.
c. AD 60— this verse
Paul's Defense Before Agrippa
Paul stands trial before King Herod Agrippa II and Bernice, as well as the Roman governor Festus. It is during this defense, recounting his conversion and mission, that Agrippa makes his famous remark.
This verse speaks of those who receive the word with joy but have no root, falling away in times of testing. Agrippa's 'almost' response mirrors this superficial acceptance, showing how conviction doesn't always lead to lasting faith.
Matthew 13:22Jesus describes the seed that falls among thorns, representing those who hear the word but let the worries of life, riches, and pleasures choke it out. Agrippa's position and likely pride likely played a role in preventing him from fully committing, similar to these thorny ground listeners.
John 3:19-20This passage explains that people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil, and they will not come to the light for fear of exposure. Agrippa's refusal to fully embrace Christianity, despite Paul's compelling argument, suggests a similar aversion to the light and the potential cost of discipleship.
James 1:22James warns against being 'doers of the word, and not hearers only.' Agrippa heard Paul's powerful testimony and was clearly moved ('almost persuaded'), but his unwillingness to act on that conviction highlights the danger of merely hearing without truly obeying.
Acts 24:25Felix, another Roman governor who heard Paul preach, trembled and dismissed him, saying he would listen again at a more convenient time. Agrippa's reaction is remarkably similar to Felix's, showing a pattern of deep conviction followed by evasion and delay in the face of challenging truth.
barnesActs 26:28: "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."
Then Agrippa said unto Paul - He could not deny that he believed the prophecies in the Old Testament. He could not deny that the argument was a strong one that they had been fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth. He could not deny that the evidence of the miraculous interposition of God in the conversion of Paul was overwhelming; and instead, therefore, of charging him, as Festus had done, with derangement, he cand…
henryActs 26:24-32: "And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad."
26:24-32 It becomes us, on all occasions, to speak the words of truth and soberness, and then we need not be troubled at the unjust censures of men. Active and laborious followers of the gospel often have been despised as dreamers or madmen, for believing such doctrines and such wonderful facts; and for attesting that the same faith and diligence, an…
Agrippa's response, "In a little," suggests he felt Paul was trying to win him over too quickly and with insufficient effort. This reveals Agrippa's dismissive attitude, implying he saw Paul's passionate plea as a casual attempt rather than a profound spiritual call. It highlights how easily one can miss the weight of truth when they're not ready to fully engage with it.
Paul has just finished a powerful defense of his faith, recounting his conversion and Jesus’ commission to preach to the Gentiles. He directly challenges King Agrippa, who is Jewish, about his belief in the prophets, asking if he believes them. Agrippa, clearly moved by Paul's earnest testimony and the logical progression of his argument, admits he is very close to being convinced, though he stops short of full commitment.
Paul has just finished a powerful defense of his faith, recounting his conversion and Jesus’ commission to preach to the Gentiles. He directly challenges King Agrippa, who is Jewish, about his belief in the prophets, asking if he believes them. Agrippa, clearly moved by Paul's earnest testimony and the logical progression of his argument, admits he is very close to being convinced, though he stops short of full commitment.
"And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”" — Agrippa's response, "In a little," suggests he felt Paul was trying to win him over too quickly and with insufficient effort. This reveals Agrippa's dismissive attitude, implying he saw Paul's passio…
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Last reviewed October 2026