26:22a–b

But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike: The Greek is literally “Therefore, having obtained help from God up to this day I have stood testifying to both small and great.” The word “therefore” introduces the result of Jesus commanding him to preach to all people (26:20). It introduces “I have stood.” “Having help from God” further describes how Paul had stood. For example:

⌊I have been preaching, and⌋ so I have stood testifying to this day to both small and great, having/with help from God

But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify: The English versions connect the phrase to this day in two ways:

(1) It indicates that Paul had God’s help for all that time. For example:

To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying (Revised Standard Version)

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

(2) It indicates that Paul persevered in testifying for all that time. For example:

But I was blessed with God’s help, and so I have stood firm to this day, testifying (New Jerusalem Bible)

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

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because it goes more naturally with help than with stand here.

26:22a

But: The Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions add the word But here. There is contrast to the Jews trying to kill Paul (26:21). But 26:22 connects to 26:20, as the above note shows.

I have had God’s help: The Greek clause can be translated literally as “experiencing help which is from God.” It emphasizes that the help was from God. Other ways to translate this clause are:

having the help that comes from God
-or-
I have received help from God himself (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
with help from God himself

to this day: This phrase indicates that God had helped Paul from the time Paul began to preach until the time he spoke this. This phrase indicates that the help had not stopped. Paul also expected that help to continue. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

To this very day (New International Version)
-or-
all this time (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
right up to this present time (New Living Translation (2004))

26:22b

(New Jerusalem Bible🙂 I have stood firm to this day, testifying: This clause in Greek is literally “I have stood/stand testifying.” Testifying was what Paul did while standing. There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the New Jerusalem Bible translates as stood firm:

(1) It indicates that Paul stood in the past and continues to stand at this time. It refers to persevering and not giving up. In the past and continuing to this day, Paul persevered in telling others about Jesus. He did not stop when people opposed him. For example:

I have stood firm to this day, testifying (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, King James Version)

(2) It indicates that Paul is standing at this time. It refers literally to Paul standing and speaking before King Agrippa at this time. So these English versions add the word “here.” For example:

I stand here testifying (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, Revised Edition, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, English Standard Version, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the Greek perfect tense usually indicates that kind of meaning. Also, 26:22a indicates a long time and not just the current time.

testifying: This word means “to report what one saw.” See how you translated it in 26:5. The thing that Paul testified about is told in 26:23.

to small and great alike: The words small and great refer to a person’s status. Paul preached to slaves, who had low status, and leaders. This phrase implies all kinds of people. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

from the least to the greatest (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
to high and low (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
to important and unimportant people (God’s Word)
-or-
to ⌊all kinds of⌋ people, small/lowly or great/high

26:22c

I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen: This clause indicates that Paul spoke things about the Christ that agreed with what the prophets and Moses said in the Old Testament. Paul did not add other teachings. Other ways to translate this clause are:

What I say is the very same thing which the prophets and Moses said was going to happen (Good News Translation)
-or-
I tell them only what the prophets and Moses said would happen (God’s Word)

what the prophets and Moses said would happen: The Greek clause can be translated literally as “what both the prophets said would happen and Moses.” The name Moses is either an afterthought or placed there for emphasis. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

what the prophets and Moses himself said would happen (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
what the prophets said would happen as well as what Moses said ⌊would happen⌋

prophets: The prophets were people who received messages from God. The message from God (often called a “prophecy”) may be in words or visions. It may reveal something about a past, present, or future event, or it may reveal someone’s thoughts, motives, or attitudes. It is not like a sermon, prepared by the preacher’s study of the Bible, but God may inspire a preacher with a prophecy during a sermon. The person speaks the prophecy to the people or writes it down for their use. Some ways to translate prophets are:

spokespersons for God
-or-
ones who speaks/brings God’s message/words

See how you translated this word in 2:16 or 24:14.

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