Acts 26:30 kjv
And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
Acts 26:30 nkjv
When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them;
Acts 26:30 niv
The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them.
Acts 26:30 esv
Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.
Acts 26:30 nlt
Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left.
Acts 26 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 26:24 | And as he was saying these things, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are mad! Your great learning is turning you mad.” | Festus' interjection |
| Acts 26:29 | And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.” | Paul's plea to Agrippa |
| Acts 26:31 | And when they had gone aside, they spoke to one another, saying, “This man is doing nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.” | The king and others' assessment of Paul |
| Acts 25:10 | But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourselves know very well. | Paul's earlier appeal to Caesar |
| John 3:20 | For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. | Those in opposition to Christ |
| Matthew 13:24-30 | Parable of the Weeds; shows opposing forces at work in the kingdom. | Illustrates separation of wheat/weeds |
| Luke 23:13-16 | Pilate sends Jesus to Herod, and then to himself. | Roman political process in a trial |
| Acts 7:51 | “You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. | Stephen's accusation, parallels Paul's |
| Acts 16:19-20 | A spirit of divination. Paul casts out demon, masters are angry. | Those threatened by spiritual truth |
| Acts 19:23-41 | Riot in Ephesus; opposition to Paul's ministry. | Conflict arising from the Gospel |
| 2 Timothy 4:16 | At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. | Paul's experience of abandonment |
| Acts 22:22 | Now the crowd listened until Paul said this. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live!” | Crowd's hostile reaction |
| Mark 15:16 | And the soldiers led him away inside the palace, that is, the governor's headquarters, and they called together the whole battalion. | Jesus' trial |
| Matthew 27:20 | But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. | Manipulation of public opinion |
| Acts 19:25 | and he said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our livelihood. | Demetrius' motivation |
| 2 Peter 2:10-11 | but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile glorious ones. | Contempt for divine authority |
| 2 Timothy 3:13 | While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. | The progression of deception |
| John 18:38 | Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in him.” | Pilate's indecision and separation |
| Acts 28:30-31 | He lived there for two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. | Paul's continued ministry |
| Acts 17:21 | For all the Athenians and the foreigners who spent their time nowhere else but to tell or to hear some new thing. | Athenian intellectual curiosity |
Acts 26 verses
Acts 26 30 Meaning
The king (Agrippa), the governor (Festus), Bernice, and their companions rose up. Their departure signified the formal conclusion of the hearing. Their speaking to one another afterward revealed their assessment of Paul's case.
Acts 26 30 Context
This verse marks the end of Paul's extended defense before Agrippa. After vividly recounting his conversion and ministry, and making a personal appeal to Agrippa to become a Christian (v. 29), the momentous gathering concludes. King Agrippa, Festus, Bernice, and their entourage depart, signifying the adjournment of the proceedings. The brief conversation that follows among them reveals their common consensus regarding the lack of any capital offense by Paul, setting the stage for the appeal to Caesar mentioned later. It is a moment where secular authority grapples with divine truth presented by a prisoner.
Acts 26 30 Word Analysis
- 30: The verse number.
- Then: Indicates the sequence of events, immediately following Paul's impassioned plea.
- the king: Refers to Herod Agrippa II, the client king of Judea.
- rose: An action indicating the termination of the session and departure. It implies the decision or conclusion of the council to leave.
- and the governor: Refers to Porcius Festus, the Roman prefect of Judea. His presence signifies Roman judicial authority.
- and Bernice: The sister of Agrippa, present for the occasion, often associated with Agrippa in significant public events. Her presence underscores the political and social weight of the gathering.
- and they: Refers to the group of notable individuals attending the hearing with Agrippa and Bernice.
- who sat with them: This phrase describes the others present who were of high status and were part of the deliberative group.
- rose: Repetition of the action of leaving. This confirms the collective departure.
- and having withdrawn: They separated themselves from Paul and the immediate area of the hearing, indicating a private deliberation.
- together: Emphasizes that their subsequent conversation was a unified discussion among the privy council.
- they spoke: The act of communication, initiating a private assessment.
- to one another: Specifically referring to their dialogue amongst themselves, not with Paul or anyone else.
Acts 26 30 Bonus Section
The sequence of events here shows the stark contrast between Paul's fervent spiritual yearning for the salvation of his hearers and the polite, almost perfunctory, termination of the hearing by secular leaders. The "rising" and "withdrawing" can be seen as symbolic of turning away from a truth that was uncomfortable or too challenging for their established worldview and political standing. This moment highlights how opposition to the Gospel can manifest not just in violent rejection, but also in dismissive silence or polite sidestepping. The unity of their subsequent conversation points to a consensus of worldly opinion that dismissed the profound spiritual claims being made.
Acts 26 30 Commentary
The departure of the dignitaries signifies a worldly verdict on Paul’s testimony. Despite Paul’s powerful defense and his deeply personal appeal, the ultimate impact on the powerful officials is a strategic withdrawal rather than a spiritual transformation. Their decision that Paul was worthy of no death or imprisonment (Acts 26:31) was a pragmatic acknowledgment that his case, from a Roman legal standpoint, was not one requiring capital punishment or severe incarceration. It demonstrates that even when presented with overwhelming truth and compelling testimony, the unregenerate heart often resorts to practical conclusions rather than embracing the radical demands of the Gospel. Their leaving shows an unwillingness to engage further or to submit to Paul's claims, revealing the chasm between political expediency and divine urgency.