Bible Strands
Acts 26:10
And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses King Agrippa and Governor Festus, recounting his historical role as a persecutor of the early church. He describes his actions in Jerusalem where he used religious authority to imprison and condemn believers.
The words — The Greek verb ἐποίησα (epoiēsa) translates literally to "I did," grounding Paul's testimony in concrete historical action. The adjective πολλοὺς (pollous) means "many," specifying the volume of saints targeted for imprisonment.
The thread — The text's description of imprisoning saints and casting votes for their condemnation parallels Acts 8:3 and Acts 9:21, where Saul drags off believers and wreaks havoc in Jerusalem. His reported actions align with Ananias's account in Acts 9:13 regarding the harm inflicted on the saints.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to recognize how institutional religious authority can be systematically used to suppress faith. It demands an unflinching assessment of how zeal, when misdirected, produces documented violence against believers.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
Cross-references
- Acts 8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
- Acts 9:13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
- Acts 9:21 All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”
- Acts 22:4 I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison,
- Acts 7:58 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
- Acts 8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
- Acts 9:1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest
- Acts 9:26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.
- Acts 22:19 ‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.
- 1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.