Acts 26:28
And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Agrippa’s response, "In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?" might sound like he's almost convinced, but the original Greek suggests he’s being dismissive. He’s implying Paul is trying to win him over too easily, with too little effort or evidence, mocking the idea of becoming a Christian so quickly.
Paul has just finished a powerful defense of his faith, recounting his conversion experience and appealing to King Agrippa's knowledge of the Jewish prophets. Festus, the Roman governor, interrupts, thinking Paul is out of his mind, but Agrippa, a Jewish king, is clearly moved by Paul's logical argument and passionate testimony. Agrippa's response, though interpreted in various ways, reveals he is deeply unsettled by Paul's message, acknowledging its power but stopping short of full commitment.
Agrippa's famous line, 'Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian,' sounds like a near conversion. But what if it wasn't sincere?
While some commentators believe Agrippa was genuinely moved, many scholars point to the original Greek and the context to suggest a different interpretation. The phrase 'in a little' (or 'with little') likely referred to the effort or time Agrippa felt Paul was using.
A Sideways Glance
Many people today are 'almost persuaded.' What keeps them from crossing the threshold into full commitment?
Regardless of whether Agrippa was sincere or cynical, his response highlights a timeless human struggle: the gap between intellectual understanding and genuine commitment.
The 'Almost' Trap
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 II, a Jewish client king under Roman rule, stands at a crossroads of political expediency and personal conviction. His response, 'In a little time you persuade me to be a Christian,' reflects a deep awareness of his heritage and the political implications of embracing a movement considered radical and even seditious by many in power, even as Paul's reasoned defense compels him to acknowledge the truth.
c. AD 33
Crucifixion of Jesus
The central event of Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth is crucified in Jerusalem, an event that forms the core of Paul's testimony.
c. AD 35-36
Paul's Conversion
Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of Christians, has a dramatic encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, transforming him into an apostle.
c. AD 44
Death of Herod Agrippa I
The grandfather of Herod Agrippa II, this king dies suddenly after accepting divine honors. This event may have deeply influenced his son, Herod Agrippa II, regarding divine judgment.
c. AD 58
Paul's Arrest in Jerusalem
Paul is arrested in Jerusalem after being accused of profaning the Temple, leading to his imprisonment and subsequent trials.
This parable of the Good Samaritan highlights the tension between knowledge and action, mirroring Agrippa's intellectual assent versus his unwillingness to commit to being a Christian.
John 3:1-8Nicodemus, like Agrippa, was a religious leader who understood the prophecies but struggled with the radical transformation required for spiritual rebirth, demonstrating a similar 'almost persuaded' state.
Matthew 13:20-23Jesus' parable of the sower speaks to different responses to the 'word,' with the seed sown on rocky ground representing those who receive it joyfully but lack deep roots, much like Agrippa's superficial conviction.
James 1:22-25This passage warns against being 'hearers only' and emphasizes the need to be doers of the word, directly addressing the danger of Agrippa’s position of hearing and being moved, but not acting.
Felix, another Roman official who heard Paul preach, also put off making a decision, showing a pattern of intellectual engagement with the gospel without personal commitment, similar to Agrippa's reaction.
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 short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?" might sound like he's almost convinced, but the original Greek suggests he’s being dismissive. He’s implying Paul is trying to win him over too easily, with too little effort or evidence, mocking the idea of becoming a Christian so quickly.
Paul has just finished a powerful defense of his faith, recounting his conversion experience and appealing to King Agrippa's knowledge of the Jewish prophets. Festus, the Roman governor, interrupts, thinking Paul is out of his mind, but Agrippa, a Jewish king, is clearly moved by Paul's logical argument and passionate testimony. Agrippa's response, though interpreted in various ways, reveals he is deeply unsettled by Paul's message, acknowledging its power but stopping short of full commitment.
Paul has just finished a powerful defense of his faith, recounting his conversion experience and appealing to King Agrippa's knowledge of the Jewish prophets. Festus, the Roman governor, interrupts, thinking Paul is out of his mind, but Agrippa, a Jewish king, is clearly moved by Paul's logical argument and passionate testimony. Agrippa's response, though interpreted in various ways, reveals he is deeply unsettled by Paul's message, acknowledging its power but stopping short of full commitment.
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c. AD 60— this verse
Paul's Defense Before Agrippa II
Paul, under Roman jurisdiction, recounts his life and conversion to King Herod Agrippa II, Governor Festus, and Bernice. This is the pivotal moment of the verse.
c. AD 60
Paul Appeals to Caesar
Following his trial before Agrippa and Festus, Paul invokes his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to Emperor Nero in Rome.
"And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”" — Agrippa’s response, "In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?" might sound like he's almost convinced, but the original Greek suggests he’s being dismissive. He’s implying Paul is try…
