Acts 26:8

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 26:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?
Acts 26:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 26

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8Why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, etc.] You Heathens and Sadducees; for the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead was thought an incredible doctrine by the Heathens in general, and therefore was laughed at by the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers at Athens, when preached by the apostle there; and by a particular sect among the Jews, the Sadducees; and the apostle may be thought either to address himself to Festus, the Roman governor, and to the chief captains, who were present, and, being Heathens, disbelieved this doctrine; or else to King Agrippa, who might be a Sadducee, and to such of the Sadducees as were in court, and expostulate with them, why it should be looked…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Why should it be thought a thing incredible . . . that God should raise the dead?--rather, "Why is it judged a thing incredible if God raises the dead?" the case being viewed as an accomplished fact. No one dared to call in question the overwhelming evidence of the resurrection of Jesus, which proclaimed Him to be the Christ, the Son of God; the only way of getting rid of it, therefore, was to pronounce it incredible. But why, asks the apostle, is it so judged? Leaving this pregnant question to find its answer in the breasts of his audience, he now passes to his personal history.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Why should it be thought ... - The force of this question will be better seen by an exclamation point after why τί ti. “What! is it to be thought a thing incredible?” etc. It intimates surprise that it should be thought incredible, or implies that no reason could be given why such a doctrine should be unworthy of belief. A thing incredible - A doctrine which cannot be credited or believed. Why should it be regarded as absurd? With you - This is in the plural number, and it is evident that Paul here addressed, not Agrippa alone, but those who sat with him. There is no evidence that Agrippa doubled that the dead could be raised, but Festus, and those who were with him, probably did, and Paul,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Is it judged by you an incredible thing - It was by Festus, Act 25:19, to whom Paul answers as if he had heard him discourse. Acts 26:9”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Act 4:2, Act 10:40-42, Act 13:30, Act 13:31, Act 17:31, Act 17:32, Act 25:19; Gen 18:14; Mat 22:29-32; Luk 1:37, Luk 18:27; Joh 5:28, Joh 5:29; Co1 15:12-20; Phi 3:21 Acts 26:9”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification