“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.”
My Notes
What Does Acts 26:29 Mean?
Paul's response to King Agrippa is one of the most gracious moments in Acts: "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." Paul wishes everyone in the room were Christians — with one exception: the chains.
The phrase "except these bonds" is simultaneously humble and pointed. Paul doesn't wish imprisonment on anyone. But he wishes everything else about his condition on everyone: the faith, the hope, the relationship with Christ, the assurance of resurrection. The chains are the exception; the transformation is the gift he wants to share universally.
The expansive generosity — not just Agrippa but "all that hear me" — reveals a man whose concern extends beyond the person on the throne to every person in the room. The soldier, the court official, the observers — Paul wants all of them to have what he has. The missionary impulse doesn't shut off in chains.
Reflection Questions
- 1.If you were in Paul's position (imprisoned, on trial), would you wish your circumstances on anyone — and would you wish your faith on everyone?
- 2.What does 'except these bonds' reveal about how Paul evaluates the cost and the treasure of his faith?
- 3.How does Paul turning a courtroom into a missions field model your own opportunities?
- 4.What do you have in Christ that you genuinely wish everyone around you could experience?
Devotional
I wish you were like me. All of you. Everyone in this room. Except for the chains.
Paul is standing in chains before a king, having been imprisoned for years, facing a trial that will end in Rome and eventually in execution. And his response to the king's near-conversion (verse 28) is: I wish you had what I have. Not freedom — faith. Not my circumstances — my Christ. Everything about me that matters, minus the metal on my wrists.
The generosity of this statement is breathtaking. Paul doesn't wish suffering on Agrippa or anyone else. But he genuinely wishes they had his relationship with Jesus. The chains are the cost; the faith is the treasure. And Paul's assessment, after years of imprisonment, is that the treasure is worth more than the cost. The chains are the one thing he'd exclude. Everything else, he'd give universally.
The expansion beyond Agrippa — "all that hear me this day" — turns a courtroom into a missions field. Paul isn't just defending himself; he's evangelizing everyone in the room. The soldier guarding him, the officials taking notes, the courtiers watching the proceedings — Paul wants all of them to have what he has.
This is the posture of someone who has weighed everything and concluded: what I have in Christ is worth everything I've lost to get it. The chains are the acceptable cost. The faith is the incomparable gain. And the only selfish thing Paul can imagine is keeping it to himself.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And when he had thus spoken,.... These words are omitted in the Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and…
I would to God - I pray to God; I earnestly desire it of God. This shows: (1) Paul’s intense desire that Agrippa, and…
I would to God, etc. - Ευξαιμην αν τῳ Θεῳ, και εν ολιγῳ και εν πολλῳ - So fully am I persuaded of the infinite…
We have reason to think that Paul had a great deal more to say in defence of the gospel he preached, and for the honour…
both almost, and altogether The literal rendering of the Greek is given by the Rev. Ver."whether with little or with…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture