Acts 26:29

27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”

“Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”

30 Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them.

31 On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”
KJV
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.
WEB
Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.”
ASV
And Paul [said], I would to God, that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds.
DARBY
And Paul [said], I would to God, both in little and in much, that not only thou, but all who have heard me this day, should become such as *I* also am, except these bonds.
BLB
And Paul [said], “I would wish anyhow to God, both in a little and in much, not only you, but also all those hearing me this day, to become such as I also am, except these chains.”
ÅB
Paulus sa da: Jeg ville ønske til Gud, enten det mangler lite eller meget, at ikke alene du, men også alle som hører meg idag, måtte bli slik som jeg er, bare uten disse lenker.
OTB
Paulus svarte: «Kort tid eller lang, jeg ber til Gud om at ikke bare du, men alle som hører meg i dag, må bli som jeg er, bortsett fra disse lenkene.»
B1930
Paulus sa da: Jeg vilde ønske til Gud, enten det mangler lite eller meget, at ikke alene du, men også alle som hører mig idag, måtte bli slik som jeg er, bare uten disse lenker.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ephesians 6:20

    for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

    Read in context
  • Colossians 1:28

    We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

    Read in context
  • Romans 10:1

    Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.

    Read in context
  • Acts 21:33

    The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

    Read in context
  • John 5:34

    Even though I do not accept human testimony, I say these things so that you may be saved.

    Read in context
  • Exodus 16:3

    “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 5:3

    She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”

    Read in context
  • Acts 12:6

    On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison.

    Read in context