Acts 26:9 kjv
I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts 26:9 nkjv
"Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts 26:9 niv
"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts 26:9 esv
"I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts 26:9 nlt
"I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene.
Acts 26 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 7:58 | ...And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. | Saul's approval of Stephen's murder |
| Acts 8:1 | And Saul approved of his execution... Saul was ravaging the church... | Saul's agreement to persecution, actively destroying |
| Acts 9:1 | But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord... | His intense hostility and intent to kill |
| Acts 22:3 | ...educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are today. | His Jewish background and zealous nature |
| Acts 22:4 | I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women... | His direct involvement in fatal persecution |
| Gal 1:13 | For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. | Paul's own admission of violent persecution |
| Phil 3:6 | as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. | His self-perceived blamelessness in persecution |
| 1 Tim 1:13 | ...though formerly I was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief... | His ignorant persecution, basis for mercy |
| John 16:2 | ...Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. | Foreshadowing of religiously motivated persecution |
| Rom 10:2 | For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. | Paul's observation of Israel's misguided zeal |
| Matt 2:23 | ...He went and lived in a town called Nazareth... | Prophetic association of Jesus with Nazareth |
| John 1:46 | Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"... | The perceived insignificance of Nazareth |
| Acts 3:6 | But Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" | Authority invoked by Jesus' name and origin |
| Acts 4:10 | ...let it be known to all of you... that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified... | Public proclamation using Jesus of Nazareth |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name... | The power and authority of "the Name" |
| Acts 5:28 | "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name... and now you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching..." | Authority resisted in the "Name" |
| Prov 14:12 | There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. | Misguided righteousness leading to destruction |
| Isa 66:5 | Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word: "Your brothers who hate you and cast you out for my name's sake..." | Persecution for God's name, parallels with Christ |
| Matt 7:21-23 | "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven..." | Misplaced religious fervor without true knowledge |
| Ps 7:15-16 | He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made... | Irony of persecutor's own downfall |
| 2 Tim 3:12 | Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. | General principle of persecution for Christ's followers |
| Luke 11:49 | "Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and perseccute...'" | Divine wisdom predicting persecution of His messengers |
Acts 26 verses
Acts 26 9 Meaning
In Acts 26:9, Paul vividly recounts his pre-conversion mindset and actions to King Agrippa. He states that he was utterly convinced he had a moral and religious duty to actively suppress and harm anything associated with Jesus of Nazareth and His followers. This verse serves as a profound confession of his past opposition, driven by sincere but gravely mistaken zeal, setting the stage for the dramatic revelation of his conversion.
Acts 26 9 Context
Acts chapter 26 is part of Paul's extended legal defense before high-ranking officials—specifically King Agrippa II, Bernice, and Governor Festus, in Caesarea Maritima. This defense occurs after Festus, who found no charge deserving death, sought Agrippa's input because Agrippa was well-versed in Jewish customs and controversies. Paul's speech is a masterclass in apologetics, tracing his transformation from zealous persecutor to fervent apostle. In this specific verse, Paul is laying the foundation for his defense, explaining why he initially opposed Christianity so vehemently. He frames his persecution not as arbitrary malice, but as a deep-seated conviction rooted in his Jewish heritage and understanding of the Law. By confessing his past extreme prejudice and perceived righteousness in opposing "the Way," he highlights the dramatic nature of his Damascus Road conversion, making it clear that only a divine intervention could have shifted such strong conviction. The verse specifically details the ideological stance he held against Jesus of Nazareth before his encounter with the risen Christ.
Acts 26 9 Word analysis
- I (ἔγω - egō): This pronoun is emphatic, highlighting Paul's personal responsibility and strong, unwavering conviction. It contrasts with his present submission to Christ.
- verily (μὲν οὖν - men oun): This is a particle indicating an emphatic affirmation or strong assent to what follows, emphasizing the sincerity of his past belief. It translates to "certainly," "indeed," or "truly."
- thought (ἔδοξα - edoxa): From the verb δοκέω (dokeō), meaning "to think," "to believe," "to consider," "to form an opinion." Here, it signifies a deeply held personal conviction or a settled judgment, not merely a fleeting idea. Paul was thoroughly persuaded and resolute in his judgment.
- with myself: This phrase further emphasizes the internal nature of his conviction. His beliefs were deeply personal and internally justified; he fully owned them.
- that I ought (δεῖν - dein): This verb implies a strong sense of moral necessity, obligation, or duty. Paul believed it was absolutely required of him, from a religious standpoint, to act against this "sect." It was a perceived divine imperative according to his former understanding.
- to do (πράττειν - prattein): To perform, accomplish, practice, especially habitually. This implies continuous, purposeful action rather than isolated incidents.
- many things (πολλά - polla): Denotes a great quantity or variety of actions. This suggests his persecution was extensive, widespread, and involved diverse hostile acts, corroborating earlier accounts in Acts.
- contrary to (ἐναντία - enantia): Meaning "opposite to," "hostile to," "adverse to." Paul viewed his actions as directly antagonistic and fundamentally opposed to everything associated with Jesus of Nazareth.
- the name: In ancient cultures, a "name" represented the entire person—their authority, character, power, presence, and reputation. To act "contrary to the name" meant to oppose all that Jesus was, taught, and stood for.
- of Jesus: The common human name of the Messiah, identifying Him as a real historical figure.
- of Nazareth (τοῦ Ναζωραίου - tou Nazōraiou): A geographical descriptor linking Jesus to Nazareth, a town often looked down upon (John 1:46). Before Paul's conversion, this likely served to highlight Jesus's humble origins, contributing to the perception that he could not be the Messiah who was expected to come from Bethlehem and be of kingly lineage, and who would embody divine glory. For Jewish authorities, this descriptor also carried a polemical tone, implying Jesus was a rustic, uncredentialed individual, and therefore his movement was not from God.
Acts 26 9 Bonus section
The intense zeal Paul describes in this verse connects directly to the broader Jewish context of the time, where groups like the Zealots were willing to commit violence to preserve what they saw as God's honor and the integrity of Israel. While Paul wasn't politically a Zealot, his religious fervor echoed a similar commitment. His confession here is also a rhetorical strategy: by fully owning his past as the "chief of sinners" (1 Tim 1:15), he magnifies the power of God's mercy and the truth of his conversion experience. It sets him apart from a casual follower, demonstrating a complete ideological overhaul rooted in a direct encounter with Christ. Paul's description of his actions as "many things" suggests systematic and comprehensive persecution, extending beyond simple verbal disagreement to active violence, imprisonment, and likely complicity in death. His self-justification emphasizes that such strong opposition requires a truly divine intervention to change, solidifying the argument for the supernatural origin of the Christian message and his apostleship.
Acts 26 9 Commentary
Acts 26:9 encapsulates Paul's past religious zeal turned persecution, driven by an intense conviction that his actions were pleasing to God. Before his conversion, Saul, as he was known, was deeply embedded in Pharisaic Judaism, thoroughly trained and utterly committed to defending the Law and the purity of his faith. He genuinely believed the nascent Christian movement, proclaiming a crucified Messiah, was blasphemous and a grave threat to God's covenant with Israel. This verse shows his complete immersion in this misguided understanding. His conviction was not casual; he truly "thought...I ought to do many things" against this "Jesus of Nazareth," highlighting a profound sense of religious duty. The mention of "Nazareth" often carried a connotation of lowliness, amplifying his perceived righteous rejection of a Messiah from such a place. The phrase "the name of Jesus" signifies not just the individual but His authority, teaching, and entire redemptive mission. Paul was in direct opposition to everything Jesus represented. This candid admission of his fervent, albeit misinformed, past opposition serves to powerfully underscore the miraculous nature of his subsequent conversion by God's grace, and how even the most ardent persecutor can become God's chosen instrument.