SEV Biblia, Chapter 26:28
Entonces Agripa dijo a Pablo: Por poco me persuades que me haga cristiano.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 26:28
Verse 28. Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.] en oligw me peiqeiv cristianon genesqai. This declaration was almost the necessary consequence of the apostle's reasoning, and Agrippa's faith. If he believed the prophets, see ver. 22, 23, and believed that Paul's application of their words to Christ Jesus was correct, he must acknowledge the truth of the Christian religion; but he might choose whether he would embrace and confess this truth, or not. However, the sudden appeal to his religious faith extorts from him the declaration, Thou hast nearly persuaded me to embrace Christianity. How it could have entered into the mind of any man, who carefully considered the circumstances of the case, to suppose that these words of Agrippa are spoken ironically, is to me unaccountable. Every circumstance in the case proves them to have been the genuine effusion of a heart persuaded of the truth; and only prevented from fully acknowledging it by secular considerations.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 28. Then Agrippa said unto Paul , etc.] Either seriously or ironically; rather the former, arising from the convictions of his mind, which he could not stifle nor conceal: almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian ; to profess faith in Jesus as the Messiah, to embrace his doctrine, and submit to his ordinances, which is to be a Christian, at least externally: and when he says almost, or in a little, his meaning is, that within a little, or very near, he was of being persuaded to embrace Christianity; or in a little matter, and in some respects; or rather in a few words, and in a small space of time, Paul had strangely wrought upon him to incline to the Christian religion; though the first sense, that he was almost, or within a little of being a Christian, seems to be the best, as appears by the apostles reply to it: what it is to be a real Christian, (see Gill on Acts 11:26). An almost Christian is one that has much light and knowledge, but no grace; he may know something of himself and of sin, of its being a violation of the law of God, and of the bad consequences of it, but has not true repentance for it; he may know much of Christ in a speculative way, concerning his person and offices, as the devils themselves do, and of the good things which come by him, as peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation; but has no application of these things to himself; he may have a large notional knowledge of the doctrines of the Gospel, but has no experience of the power, sweetness, and comfort of them in his own soul; all his knowledge is unsanctified, and without practice: he is one that has a taste of divine things, but has not the truth of them; he may taste of the heavenly gift, of the good word of God, and of the powers of the world to come; yet it is but a taste, a superficial one, which he has; he does not savour and relish these things, nor is he nourished by them: he has a great deal of faith in the historical way, and sometimes a bold confidence and assurance of everlasting happiness; but has not faith of the right kind, which is spiritual and special, which is the faith of Gods elect, the gift of God, and the operation of his Spirit; by which the soul beholds the glory, fulness, and suitableness of Christ, under a sense of need, and goes forth to him, renouncing everything of self, and lays hold upon him, and trusts in him for salvation; and which works by love to Christ and his people, and has with it the fruits of righteousness: he may express a great deal of flashy affectation to the word, and the ministers of it, for a while, but has nothing solid and substantial in him; he may partake of the Holy Ghost, of his gifts largely, but not of special and internal grace; and indeed he can only be an almost Christian, that becomes one merely through the persuasion of men: it is one part of the Gospel ministry to persuade men, but this of itself is ineffectual; a real Christian is made so by the power of divine grace. Agrippa was only persuaded, and but almost persuaded by the apostle to be a Christian, but not by the Lord, nor altogether, who persuades Japheth to dwell in the tents of Shem.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 24-32 - It becomes us, on all occasions, to speak the words of truth an soberness, and then we need not be troubled at the unjust censures of men. Active and laborious followers of the gospel often have bee despised as dreamers or madmen, for believing such doctrines and suc wonderful facts; and for attesting that the same faith and diligence and an experience like their own, are necessary to all men, whateve their rank, in order to their salvation. But apostles and prophets, an the Son of God himself, were exposed to this charge; and none need be moved thereby, when Divine grace has made them wise unto salvation Agrippa saw a great deal of reason for Christianity. His understandin and judgment were for the time convinced, but his heart was no changed. And his conduct and temper were widely different from the humility and spirituality of the gospel. Many are almost persuaded to be religious, who are not quite persuaded; they are under stron convictions of their duty, and of the excellence of the ways of God yet do not pursue their convictions. Paul urged that it was the concer of every one to become a true Christian; that there is grace enough in Christ for all. He expressed his full conviction of the truth of the gospel, the absolute necessity of faith in Christ in order to salvation. Such salvation from such bondage, the gospel of Chris offers to the Gentiles; to a lost world. Yet it is with much difficult that any person can be persuaded he needs a work of grace on his heart like that which was needful for the conversion of the Gentiles. Let u beware of fatal hesitation in our own conduct; and recollect how fa the being almost persuaded to be a Christian, is from being altogethe such a one as every true believer is __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
ο 3588 T-NSM δε 1161 CONJ αγριππας 67 N-NSM προς 4314 PREP τον 3588 T-ASM παυλον 3972 N-ASM εφη 5346 5713 V-IXI-3S εν 1722 PREP ολιγω 3641 A-DSN με 3165 P-1AS πειθεις 3982 5719 V-PAI-2S χριστιανον 5546 N-ASM γενεσθαι 1096 5635 V-2ADN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
28. Almost thou persuadest (en oligw me peiqeiv). Lit., in a little thou persuadest. The rendering almost must be rejected, being without sufficient authority. The phrase, in a little, is adverbial, and means in brief; summarily. We may supply pains or talk. "With little pains, or with a few words." The words are ironical, and the sense is, "You are trying to persuade me offhand to be a Christian." Thou persuadest (peiqeiv) is rather, thou art for persuading; thou attemptest to persuade; a force which both the present and the imperfect sometimes have. 29
Robertson's NT Word Studies
26:28 {With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian} (en oligwi me peiqeis cristianon poiesai). The Authorized rendering is impossible: "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." en oligwi does not mean "almost." That would require oligou, par' oligon, or dei oligou. It is not clear, however, precisely what en oligoi does mean. It may refer to time (in little time) or a short cut, but that does not suit well en megalwi in verse #29. Tyndale and Crammer rendered it "somewhat" (in small measure or degree). There are, alas, many "somewhat" Christians. Most likely the idea is "in (or with) small effort you are trying to persuade (peiqeis, conative present active indicative) me in order to make me a Christian." this takes the infinitive poiesai to be purpose (Page renders it by "so as") and thus avoids trying to make poiesai like genesqai (become). The aorist is punctiliar action for single act, not "perfect." The tone of Agrippa is ironical, but not unpleasant. He pushes it aside with a shrug of the shoulders. The use of "Christian" is natural here as in the other two instances (#11:26; 1Pe 4:16).
