Acts 26:10 · Bible study
Acts 26:10 Commentary: Study: Paul's Vote in the Sanhedrin?
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Exegetical study of Acts 26:10, examining the Greek phrase 'I gave my vote,' Paul's authority, and the meaning of 'saints.'
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul confesses he actively arrested Christians and approved executions, acting with official authority from the chief priests.
- Key words: ἐξουσίαν (authority), ψῆφον (vote/pebble), ἁγίων (saints/holy ones), κατήνεγκα (I cast down).
- Main debate: Does the phrase 'I gave my vote' indicate formal Sanhedrin membership or merely moral approval?
- Theological theme: The depth of Paul's sin magnifies the grace of Christ that transformed chief persecutor into chief apostle.
- Best use: A testimony of radical conversion, demonstrating that no past is beyond redemption.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
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.
WEB World English Bible 2000
I also did this in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And this I also did in Jerusalem: and I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
which also I did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I in prison did shut up, from the chief priests having received the authority; they also being put to death, I gave my vote against them,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Which also I did in Jerusalem, and myself shut up in prisons many of the saints, having received the authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death I gave my vote.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Which also I did at Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority of the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I brought the sentence.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Lo cual también hice en Jerusalem, y yo encerré en cárceles á muchos de los santos, recibida potestad de los príncipes de los sacerdotes; y cuando eran matados, yo dí mi voto.
O que eu também fiz em Jerusalém; e tendo recebido autoridade dos chefes dos sacerdotes, eu pus em prisões a muitos dos santos; e quando eles eram mortos, eu também dava meu voto contra eles .
C’ est ce que j’ ai fait à Jérusalem. J’ ai jeté en prison plusieurs des saints, ayant reçu ce pouvoir des principaux sacrificateurs, et, quand on les mettait à mort, je joignais mon suffrage à celui des autres.
wie ich denn auch zu Jerusalem getan habe, da ich viele Heilige in das Gefängnis verschloß, darüber ich Macht von den Hohenpriestern empfing; und wenn sie erwürgt wurden, half ich das Urteil sprechen.
Hetwelk ik ook gedaan heb te Jeruzalem, en ik heb velen van de heiligen in de gevangenissen gesloten, de macht van de overpriesters ontvangen hebbende; en als zij omgebracht werden, stemde ik het toe.
E questo difatti feci a Gerusalemme; e avutane facoltà dai capi sacerdoti serrai nelle prigioni molti de’ santi; e quando erano messi a morte, io detti il mio voto.
Com też czynił w Jeruzalemie i wielem ja świętych sadzał do więzienia, wziąwszy moc od przedniejszych kapłanów; a gdy mieli być zabijani, wotowałem przeciwko nim.
Это я и делал в Иерусалиме: получив власть от первосвященников, я многих святых заключал в темницы, и, когда убивали их, я подавал на то голос;
我在 耶路撒冷 也 曾這樣 行了。 既從 祭司長 得了 權柄，我 就把許多 聖徒 囚在 監裡。 他們 被殺，我也出 名定案。
And this I did in Jerusalem: and numbers of the saints I put in prison, having had authority given to me from the chief priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my decision against them.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Acts 26:10
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators broadly agree that 'I gave my vote' (κατήνεγκα ψῆφον) does not imply formal membership in the Sanhedrin. Vincent's Word Studies notes that ψῆφος originally meant a small pebble used in judicial voting, but the phrase here likely expresses only 'moral assent and approval.' Barnes points out that Paul was not a member of the Sanhedrin, he was a young Pharisee, so the vote means he 'joined in the persecution' and 'assented to the putting of the saints to death.' Gill and Wesley similarly interpret it as approval rather than a formal ballot. On the term 'saints' (τῶν ἁγίων), Vincent observes that Paul uses the Christian designation without fear before Agrippa, highlighting how his perspective has shifted from seeing Christians as criminals to recognizing them as God's holy people. The consensus is that this verse shows Paul's intense, hands-on involvement in the persecution, arresting, imprisoning, and approving executions, while the precise form of his 'vote' remains a matter of interpretation.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Formal Sanhedrin vote: ψῆφος as a judicial voting pebble; Paul's claim to vote could imply membership or at least a recognized role in capital trials.
- Moral approval only: Barnes and Vincent argue Paul was not a Sanhedrin member; the phrase 'gave my voice' (KJV) means he sided with those who condemned, as in Acts 22:20.
What is clear: Paul actively participated in the persecution of Christians, using official authority to arrest them, and he personally approved the execution of some.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Paul's membership in the Sanhedrin | Paul was not a member of the Sanhedrin; he was a young Pharisee at the time. | Some early interpreters (e.g., Chrysostom) suggested Paul could have been a member; modern commentators generally agree he was not, though the phrase 'I gave my vote' may still imply a quasi-official role. |
| Meaning of 'I gave my vote' (ψῆφον) | The phrase indicates Paul actively approved of putting Christians to death. | Some read it as a literal vote in a council (formal condemnation); others (Barnes, Vincent, Wesley) see it as moral assent or joining the accusers. |
| Scope of the persecutions | More Christians died than just Stephen; Paul's involvement was extensive. | Whether these deaths were the result of formal trials or mob violence is less clear; the text suggests some legal process with executions after imprisonment. |
| Use of 'saints' | Paul uses the Christian term for believers, showing he now identifies them as God's people. | No debate; the term is uncontroversial. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits within Paul's defense before King Agrippa II, a Herodian ruler well versed in Jewish customs (Acts 26:3). Paul recounts his pre-conversion life to demonstrate that his transformation was real and dramatic: a zealous Pharisee who once 'thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth' (26:9) has become the apostle to the Gentiles. The Roman and Jewish systems of justice in first-century Judea allowed the Sanhedrin to pass death sentences for certain religious offenses (e.g., blasphemy), though capital punishment required approval from the Roman prefect. Chief priests were the religious authorities who authorized persecution; Paul says he 'received authority' from them, likely in the form of arrest warrants (as in Acts 9:2, letter to Damascus).
The word 'saints' (ἅγιοι) was a common Christian self-designation, meaning 'holy ones' set apart for God. Paul uses it here, before a Jewish king, to show his former respect for God's people, albeit by persecuting them. The phrase 'shut up many of the saints in prisons' echoes Acts 8:3, where Saul 'ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison.' The mention of putting to death (ἀναιρουμένων) indicates that more Christians died than just Stephen, whose martyrdom is recorded in Acts 7. Paul's admission that he 'gave his vote' (literally 'cast down a pebble') reflects the ancient practice of voting with black and white stones, though he almost certainly means he publicly and decisively sided with the prosecutors, even if not as a formal Sanhedrin member.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Acts 26:10. The Greek text is stable across manuscript traditions. The only minor variation appears in the spelling of 'Jerusalem' (Ἱεροσολύμοις vs. Ἱερο/ Ιερ-), which does not affect meaning.
Reception History
Early church writers such as John Chrysostom used Acts 26:10 to emphasize Paul's complete turnaround: the same man who once approved death sentences later endured them for Christ. Medieval commentators often focused on the phrase 'I gave my vote' as proof of Paul's personal guilt and the vastness of God's mercy. During the Reformation, Calvin seized on Paul's willingness to confess even what others considered worthy of praise: 'He condemneth his very zeal of madness, which others did honor.' In modern evangelical preaching, this verse frequently appears in testimonies of radical conversion, alongside Acts 9 and 22. The image of 'casting a pebble' has been used to explore how sin leaves a record, and how grace erases it.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Paul's Past: A Zealous Persecutor, Paul did not merely watch; he participated. He shut up saints in prison by official authority and approved their deaths. This shows the depth of his opposition to Christ before his conversion.
- The Identity of the Persecuted, Paul calls them 'saints,' using the language of faith even while describing his own sin. This highlights the irony: he was fighting against God's holy people while thinking he served God.
- The Foundation for Grace, By detailing his hostility, Paul magnifies the mercy that stopped him on the Damascus road. If such a persecutor can be saved, no one is beyond God's reach.
Five-point outline
- Cold Calculation, Paul had authority from chief priests; persecution was not random but organized.
- Broader Violence, 'Many' saints imprisoned, more than just Stephen put to death.
- Personal Commission, Paul acted with his own hands: 'I shut up … I gave my vote.'
- Legal Form, The phrase 'I gave my vote' implies at least public approval, possibly formal condemnation.
- Transparent Confession, Paul does not minimize his guilt; he states it openly before a king.
Illustration hooks
- Courtroom drama: A juror who votes 'guilty' for a defendant, then later discovers the person was innocent. That regret and reversal mirror Paul's remorse after meeting Christ.
- Political committee: Someone who uses their influence to block a worthy project, later recognizing they were on the wrong side. Paul's 'vote' against the saints was his misguided use of influence.
- Family conflict: A relative who 'votes' to cut off another family member, only to later reconcile. Paul voted to cut off believers from the community, but Christ restored him.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Did Paul really have the authority to put Christians to death, or was he just an assistant to the chief priests?
- How could Paul be so religious and yet so violent, and what does that say about zeal without Christ?
- If Paul was guilty of approving murder, can someone with that past truly be saved and become an apostle?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is part of Paul's personal testimony. He openly acknowledges his role in persecuting Christians, including approving their deaths. As you discuss, consider how Paul's honest confession before a royal audience reveals the complete reversal that grace produces.
Discussion questions
- Read Acts 26:9-11 as context. What words does Paul use to describe his pre-conversion mindset? How does that set up verse 10?
- The Greek phrase 'I gave my vote' (κατήνεγκα ψῆφον) literally means 'I cast a pebble.' What does this tell you about the formality or seriousness of Paul's involvement?
- Why does Paul use the word 'saints' (ἅγιοι) to describe those he persecuted? How does that choice reflect his current perspective?
- Paul says he acted 'having received authority from the chief priests.' How does this connect to Acts 9:1-2, where he asks for letters to Damascus? What does this reveal about the organization of early persecution?
- Some Christians today carry guilt over past mistakes. How does Paul's public confession, without downplaying the severity, model a healthy approach to repentance?
- In light of verse 10, what do you think Paul felt when he later wrote 'I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God' (1 Cor 15:9)?
- How does knowing Paul's past as a 'voter' against Christians influence your understanding of God's ability to change anyone?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 16:3 | As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight. |
| Acts 7:58 | They threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. |
| Acts 8:1 | Saul was consenting to his death. A great persecution arose against the assembly which was in Jerusalem in that day. They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. |
| Acts 8:3 | But Saul ravaged the assembly, entering into every house and dragged both men and women off to prison. |
| Acts 9:1 | But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest |
| Acts 9:2 | and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. |
| Acts 9:13 | But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem. |
| Acts 9:14 | Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws attention to how much authority Paul held before his conversion. Beyond imprisoning and punishing believers, he compelled them to blaspheme Christ, cast his vote for their execution, and likely had a hand in the deaths of more Christians than just Stephen, whose names are unrecorded.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes clarifies that Paul's statement "I gave my voice" does not imply a formal vote in the Sanhedrin, as Paul was not a member. Instead, it signifies his active approval and instigation of the persecution, urging others on to put saints to death, exactly as the Syriac version renders it: he joined with those who condemned them.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that Paul freely confessed his past violent zeal against Christians, even though others praised it, because he wanted God's mercy to shine more clearly. Unlike those who excuse their errors, Paul called his own zeal madness and did not spare his reputation.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Saul was not simply a bystander or occasional persecutor but a systematic agent of legal violence. He held warrants for arrests and participated in trials that condemned Christians to death as criminals under the law, not just victims of mob rage.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Which thing I also did in Hierusalem: for many of the Saints I shut vp in prison, hauing receiued authoritie of the hie Priests, and when they were put to death, I gaue my sentence.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill clarifies that Paul's phrase "I gave my voice against them" does not mean he was a formal member of the Sanhedrin voting on death sentences. Rather, Paul zealously approved of the executions, probably even carrying the condemnation decree to the Roman governor for authorization to carry it out.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that Paul freely calls Christians "saints" before Agrippa, a term he avoided when addressing Jews because it would have enraged them. He also observes that Scripture deliberately lifts the word "holy" above pagan terms for mere external religion, making it the standard word for consecration.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the term "saints" here refers to people who were not only innocent but positively good, just, and holy. He interprets "I gave my vote against them" as the speaker joining with the condemning authorities, possibly with voting power delegated by the chief priests.