Paragraph 26:28–29

26:28b

(Revised Standard Version🙂 In a short time you think to make me a Christian: There are two ways to interpret this sentence:

(1) It is a statement. King Agrippa saw what Paul was trying to do and objected.

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, King James Version, Revised English Bible)

(2) It is a question. King Agrippa saw what Paul was trying to do and asked Paul if he thought he could persuade him so quickly. For example:

In this short time do you think you will make me a Christian? (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek NT 4 supports it.

(Revised Standard Version🙂 In a short time: This phrase in Greek is literally “in little.” There are three ways to interpret the Greek phrase:

(1) It means a short time. For example:

In a short time (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible, New Century Version, English Standard Version)

(2) It means little effort. For example:

With a little more of your persuasion (Revised English Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible)

(3) It means almost. For example:

almost (King James Version)

(King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because many English versions support it.

you think to make me a Christian: There are two ways to interpret what King Agrippa thought about the possibility of he becoming a Christian:

(1) He thought that it was unlikely that he would become a Christian. As king over Jews, he would not follow a religion that the Jews despised.

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(2) He thought that it was likely that he would become a Christian. He thought that Paul was very persuasive. For example:

A little more, and your arguments would make a Christian of me. (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it is unlikely that the king would publicly reject the religion of his people, the Jews.

(Revised Standard Version🙂 you think to: The Greek word that the Revised Standard Version translates as think is literally “are persuading.” Paul was trying to persuade King Agrippa to become a Christian. With this sentence, King Agrippa indicates that he will not become a Christian. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

you try to convince me to become a Christian
-or-
you are trying to make me a Christian!
-or-
you try/attempt to make me change my mind and become a Christian

(Revised Standard Version🙂 make me a Christian: This phrase refers to convincing someone to begin believing that Jesus is the Christ/Savior. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

become a Christian (New Century Version)
-or-
believe in Jesus as the Christ

But also see the note below.

Christian: At that time people who believed in Jesus usually called themselves “followers of the Way,” as Paul did in 24:14. Unbelievers called believers in Jesus “Christians.” Agrippa probably used this word here to imply that he was not interested in becoming a follower of the Way. He did not use it as an insult or to belittle Paul. In some languages unbelievers use a different term for believers that is not an insult. If so, you may want to use that word here.

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