Passage

Acts 26.28

Book: Acts · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"26. For the king knoweth of these things, unto whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him; for this hath not been done in a corner. 27. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest."

"28. And Agrippa said unto Paul, With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian."

"29. And Paul said, I would to God, that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds. 30. And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:" (Acts 26:26-30, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"26. For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner. 27. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”"

"28. Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?”"

"29. Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.” 30. The king rose up with the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them." (Acts 26:26-30, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"26. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. 27. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest."

"28. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."

"29. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. 30. And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:" (Acts 26:26-30, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"26. for the king doth know concerning these things, before whom also I speak boldly, for none of these things, I am persuaded, are hidden from him; for this thing hath not been done in a corner; 27. thou dost believe, king Agrippa, the prophets? I have known that thou dost believe!'"

"28. And Agrippa said unto Paul, 'In a little thou dost persuade me to become a Christian!'"

"29. and Paul said, 'I would have wished to God, both in a little, and in much, not only thee, but also all those hearing me to-day, to become such as I also am, except these bonds.' 30. And, he having spoken these things, the king rose up, and the governor, Bernice also, and those sitting with them," (Acts 26:26-30, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: Luke the physician (traditionally) / narrator + multiple speeches (Peter, Stephen, Paul)
Audience: Theophilus + Gentile Christian audience (companion to Luke)
Location: Jerusalem → Judea → Samaria → Asia Minor → Greece → Rome
Time period: events c. AD 30-62; composed c. AD 62-80

Theological reading

Key words

G1096 - ginomai, ginomai (Strong's G1096). Also appears in: Matthew 1, Matthew 5.17-18, Matthew 8.16.
G4314 - pros, pros (Strong's G4314). Also appears in: Matthew 3.13, Matthew 5.28, Matthew 11.28.

Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.