Acts 26 10

Acts 26:10 kjv

Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

Acts 26:10 nkjv

This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

Acts 26:10 niv

And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord's people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

Acts 26:10 esv

And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.

Acts 26:10 nlt

Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death.

Acts 26 verses

Acts 26 10 Meaning

In this verse, Paul makes a profound confession to King Agrippa, detailing his active and personal persecution of early believers in Jerusalem. He explicitly states that he not only imprisoned numerous "saints" but did so with formal permission from the Jewish high religious council. Furthermore, he admits to actively supporting and consenting to their executions when they were put to death, indicating his zealous involvement in condemning them. This account underscores his radical transformation after his encounter with Christ.

Acts 26 10 Context

Acts 26:10 is a pivotal statement within Paul's defense before King Agrippa II, his sister Bernice, and Governor Festus in Caesarea. Paul, accused by Jewish leaders of defiling the Temple and inciting unrest, recounts his dramatic personal history, meticulously explaining the spiritual journey that led him from being a staunch persecutor of Christianity to its most ardent advocate. This verse directly follows Paul's declaration in verse 9 that he once fervently believed he ought to oppose Jesus of Nazareth.

The broader historical and cultural context is Jerusalem under Roman rule, where the Jewish Sanhedrin (led by the chief priests) retained significant autonomy in religious matters and internal law enforcement. They perceived the early Christians, followers of "The Way," as a dangerous heresy. Paul, then called Saul, a zealous Pharisee, actively participated in this religious suppression, believing he was serving God. His vivid account in this chapter serves to demonstrate the legitimacy of his conversion experience and his subsequent commission by Christ, as well as to justify his present mission to both Jews and Gentiles.

Acts 26 10 Word analysis

• And this I did in Jerusalem: This phrase personalizes the actions. Paul takes full responsibility for his prior deeds. Jerusalem specifies the central location of the early Christian community and the Sanhedrin's authority.
• and many of the saints:
  • Saints (Greek: hagioi - ἅγιοι): Meaning "holy ones" or "set apart." This term, used by Paul later to describe Christians, ironically emphasizes that those he persecuted were truly God's people. This highlights his spiritual blindness before his conversion.
• did I shut up in prisons:
  • Shut up (Greek: katekleisa - κατέκλεισα): A strong, active verb meaning "to lock up" or "to imprison." It indicates Paul's direct, personal, and forceful involvement in apprehending and confining believers. This was not a passive observation but active participation.
• having received authority from the chief priests:
  • Authority (Greek: exousian - ἐξουσίαν): Legitimate power, the right to act. Paul highlights that his actions were not arbitrary but officially sanctioned by the religious establishment, indicating their broad power at the time to suppress perceived heresies within Judaism.
  • Chief priests (Greek: tōn archiereōn - τῶν ἀρχιερέων): Refers to the powerful and influential families who provided the high priest and members of the Sanhedrin. They were the religious and political leaders of the Jewish nation.
• and when they were put to death,
  • Put to death (Greek: anairoumenōn - ἀναιρουμένων): A participle meaning "being taken away" or "being killed." It points to actual executions, the most prominent example being Stephen (Acts 7). Paul is acknowledging the capital nature of his past persecution.
• I gave my vote against them.
  • Gave my vote (Greek: psēphon katēnenka - ψῆφον κατήνεγκα): Literally, "I brought a pebble/vote against." In ancient judicial contexts, pebbles were used for voting. This implies Paul’s active participation in the legal or quasi-legal proceedings that led to the death sentences. While it is debated if he was a full Sanhedrin member, this phrase indicates strong, explicit assent to and approval of their execution. It was more than simply witnessing; it was an act of condemnation.

Words-group analysis:

• "And this I did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prisons": This phrase chain directly links Paul to the severe persecution. The personal pronoun "I" repeatedly stresses his culpability, highlighting the extent of his active involvement in the suffering of believers. It contrasts starkly with his later identity as an apostle of Christ.
• "having received authority from the chief priests": This part clarifies the source of his empowerment. It reveals that his persecution was not mere vigilantism but had the official backing and legal, though religiously motivated, sanction of the highest Jewish religious leadership. It legitimizes his zealous efforts in his own eyes at the time.
• "and when they were put to death, I gave my vote against them": This culminating statement is the most severe. It moves beyond mere imprisonment to the active sanctioning of execution. "Put to death" makes it clear that lives were lost. "I gave my vote against them" portrays him as a direct participant in condemning fellow human beings to capital punishment, likely acting with strong conviction that he was serving God. This detail is crucial for understanding the depth of his regret and the transformative power of grace.

Acts 26 10 Bonus section

Paul's mention of "giving his vote" against the saints potentially suggests he was a member of the Sanhedrin, or at least a powerful, authorized associate in judicial capacities. Given his rabbinic training, status as a Pharisee, and statements about his "advancement" in Judaism (Gal 1:14), such a position is plausible, even if he was younger than typical members. The rhetorical purpose of Paul emphasizing these details is threefold: it powerfully validates the radical nature of his conversion (showing how a persecutor could become an apostle), it strengthens his credibility when preaching about salvation by grace through faith (since he, of all people, needed and received it), and it frames his current "suffering" as a just outcome for his past actions, yet overshadowed by his service to Christ. His polemic here, implicit against his former self, is a powerful argument for Christ, as he has directly experienced the contrast between zeal according to the law and transformation through faith.

Acts 26 10 Commentary

Acts 26:10 is Paul’s stark and unvarnished confession, presented as a core component of his conversion testimony before King Agrippa. It lays bare the brutal reality of his pre-Christian life, showcasing him as a highly zealous, religiously sanctioned persecutor who actively participated in imprisoning and even condemning followers of "The Way" to death. This admission highlights not only the extent of his former hostility toward Christ's followers but also underscores the profound spiritual darkness from which he was delivered. His meticulous recounting of receiving authority from the chief priests demonstrates that his actions were rooted in what he perceived as legitimate religious duty, zealous for the traditions of his fathers (Gal 1:14). The phrase "I gave my vote against them" conveys the intensity of his assent and active participation in their capital punishment. This severe self-indictment serves as a powerful preamble to his subsequent testimony of Christ's intervention, making the magnitude of his conversion and God's grace exceptionally vivid. It is a powerful example of someone operating under a sincere but misguided zeal for God, ultimately demonstrating that justification comes not from works of law or zealous persecution, but from faith in Christ.