What Does Acts 26:1 Mean in the King James?
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The verb for permission also carries the sense of entrusting, so Paul receives room to give his own account.
THE MEANING
You have room to speak on your own behalf; your voice enters as an answer and an account. The extended hand makes the beginning of that speech visible. The verse leaves the content of your defense with you.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that you have no standing to speak in your own defense is undone by the permission itself.
THE ROOT
ἐπιτρέπεται
epitrepetai
GROWS FROM
τρέπ-
Turn or direct; in ἐπιτρέπω (epitrepō), the word also means to allow or entrust.
“permitted” in this verse is epitrepetai. The verb carries both permission and entrustment. Paul is given space to speak, with the account itself left in his hands.
ALSO GROWS
epitrepō: Allow, permit, or entrust
ἐπιτρέπω
This is the verb behind Agrippa’s permission for Paul to speak.
epitropos: Steward, guardian, or manager
ἐπίτροπος
This related word names someone entrusted with oversight, echoing the responsibility held within permission.
ἀπελογεῖτο
apēlogeito
GROWS FROM
λογ-
Say or speak; the word and account expressed through the λόγος (logos) family.
“answered for himself” in this verse is apēlogeito. The Greek verb carries the sense of making a defense, giving more shape to the English “answered.” Its relation to λόγος (logos, word or account) presents Paul’s response as a considered account offered on his own behalf.
ALSO GROWS
logos: Word, account, or reason
λόγος
This root family connects speech with the giving of an account.
apologia: Defense or speech in defense
ἀπολογία
This noun names the kind of self-representing speech Paul’s verb describes.
THE PATTERN
When a voice is given room, it can speak an account that others can hear.
Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:THE THREAD
Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.Acts 22:1 uses ἀπολογία (apologia, defense) for Paul’s speech, from the same λογ- (log-, word or account) family as ἀπελογεῖτο (apēlogeito, made his defense) here. The repeated word family frames his answer as an account offered for himself, made possible by the room to speak.
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