Acts 26:22 · Bible study
Acts 26:22 Commentary: Standing on God's Help, Proclaiming the Prophets
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Acts 26:22: Paul declares his message of Christ's suffering and resurrection is exactly what the prophets and Moses foretold.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul declares his entire gospel of Christ's suffering and resurrection is exactly what the Old Testament foretold, no departure, no novelty.
- Key words: ἐπικουρίας (help from God as an ally's succour), ἕστηκα (I have stood, perfect tense, settled stand), μαρτυρόμενος (bearing witness).
- Main debate: Whether Paul's reading of the Old Testament is forced or faithful, the verse itself argues for a direct, promised continuity.
- Theological theme: Unity of Scripture; God's preserving help in suffering; the call to witness to all without partiality.
- Best use: Defending the consistency of the gospel with the Old Testament hope, especially in settings where Christianity is charged with being a new or foreign religion.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:
WEB World English Bible 2000
Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen,
KJV King James Version 1769
Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand unto this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses did say should come;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`Having obtained, therefore, help from God, till this day, I have stood witnessing both to small and to great, saying nothing besides the things that both the prophets and Moses spake of as about to come,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Having therefore met with [the] help which is from God, I have stood firm unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing else than those things which both the prophets and Moses have said should happen,
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But being aided by the help of God, I stand unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other thing than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come to pass:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mas ayudado del auxilio de Dios, persevero hasta el día de hoy, dando testimonio á pequeños y á grandes, no diciendo nada fuera de las cosas que los profetas y Moisés dijeron que habían de venir:
Porém tendo eu obtido socorro de Deus, permaneço até o dia de hoje, dando testemunho tanto a pequenos como a grandes; não dizendo nada além dos que as coisas que os profetas e Moisés tinham dito que estavam para acontecer;
Mais, grâce au secours de Dieu, j’ ai subsisté jusqu’ à ce jour, rendant témoignage devant les petits et les grands, sans m’écarter en rien de ce que les prophètes et Moïse ont déclaré devoir arriver,
Aber durch Hilfe Gottes ist es mir gelungen und stehe ich bis auf diesen Tag und zeuge beiden, dem Kleinen und Großen, und sage nichts außer dem, was die Propheten gesagt haben, daß es geschehen sollte, und Mose:
Dan, hulp van God verkregen hebbende, sta ik tot op dezen dag, betuigende beiden klein en groot; niets zeggende buiten hetgeen de profeten en Mozes gesproken hebben, dat geschieden zoude:
Ma per l’aiuto che vien da Dio, son durato fino a questo giorno, rendendo testimonianza a piccoli e a grandi, non dicendo nulla all’infuori di quello che i profeti e Mosè hanno detto dover avvenire, cioè:
Ale za pomocą Bożą jeszcze aż do dnia tego stoję, świadcząc i małemu, i wielkiemu, nic nie mówiąc oprócz tego, co opowiedzieli prorocy i Mojżesz, że się stać miało;
Но, получив помощь от Бога, я до сего дня стою, свидетельствуя малому и великому, ничего не говоря, кроме того, о чем пророки и Моисей говорили, что это будет,
然而 我蒙 神 的幫助，直到 今 日 還站得住， 對著 尊貴、卑賤、老幼 作見證；所講 的 並 不外乎 眾先知 和 摩西 所說 將來必 成 的事，
And so, by God's help, I am here today, witnessing to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come about;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Acts 26:22
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse is Paul's claim of continuity with the Old Testament. Vincent's Word Studies highlights the Greek ἐπικουρίας (epikouria), “the help that is from God,” with the article defining the help more sharply as divine, not human. Barnes observes that Paul traces his safety entirely to God, not to his own resourcefulness. The perfect tense ἕστηκα (hestēka), “I have stood”, indicates a settled, ongoing posture of witness that endures despite opposition. As the Cambridge Bible notes, the word for help means the succour of an ally, recalling God's promise “Surely I will be with thee.” Gill adds that Paul received help both to preach the gospel and to escape danger. The core agreement: Paul's gospel of a suffering Christ and resurrection is not a new doctrine. It is the fulfillment of what Moses and the prophets declared. His life is preserved by God for this witness alone.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Paul is testifying that his entire message regarding Jesus Christ — his suffering, resurrection, and the offer of light to both Jews and Gentiles — is exactly what the Old Testament Scriptures foretold.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of ἐπικουρίας (help) | All traditions see this as divine aid or assistance granted to Paul by God. | Some emphasize the sense of 'ally' or 'alliance' (Cambridge Bible, Vincent); others treat it as general help (Clarke, Wesley). The presence of the article 'the' in Greek sharpens the reference but does not resolve the nuance. |
| 'Nothing else than the prophets and Moses' | Christians agree Paul is claiming his gospel is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. | Interpreters differ on hermeneutical method: some see a typological fulfilment (the Old Testament patterns prefigure Christ), while others argue for more direct predictive prophecy. Both sides affirm that the Old Testament points to Christ. |
| Witness to 'small and great' | This phrase means Paul preached to people of every social rank, without partiality. | Some commentators stress the inclusiveness as universal evangelism (Barnes, Gill); others focus on the courtroom context, Paul is testifying before rulers and commoners alike (Cambridge Bible). The phrase does not specify whether 'great' includes Gentiles, though the context suggests it does. |
| Divine preservation and human responsibility | All agree Paul credits God for his survival through dangers. | Traditions vary on how to describe the interplay: Reformed commentators (e.g., Gill) emphasize God's sovereign preservation; Wesleyans (Clarke) highlight the gracious promise that Paul was obedient to; charismatics may see the 'help' as the Holy Spirit's ongoing empowerment. The verse itself simply states the fact of divine aid. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Acts 26 records Paul's defense before King Agrippa II and the Roman governor Porcius Festus. Paul had been in custody for over two years after a mob in Jerusalem tried to kill him for allegedly teaching against the law and temple. Now he tells his story: his zealous persecution of Christians, the heavenly vision on the Damascus road, and the commission to preach to Gentiles. Verse 22 is the conclusion of that narrative.
The noun “help” in Greek is ἐπικουρίας (epikouria). Thayer defines it simply as “aid, succour, help.” Vincent notes that the article τῆς sharpens it, “the help that is from God,” not general assistance but a concrete alliance. The verb ἕστηκα (hestēka) is perfect tense: Paul has taken a stand and still stands. His witness extends “both to small and great”, the Greek μικρῷ τε καὶ μεγάλῳ, covering every social level. Paul is before Agrippa, a “great,” but also addresses gathered dignitaries and soldiers.
The charge against him was novelty. Paul insists his teaching is not new: it is precisely what the prophets and Moses said would happen. The Greek verb μέλλειν (mellein), “was about to happen”, points to prophetic certainty. The phrase “the prophets and Moses” (reversing the usual order) is a shorthand for the entire Old Testament canon (Cambridge Bible). Poole's annotations note that Paul implies “the truths of the gospel . . . concerned Agrippa as well as the meanest of his auditors.” Paul's defense is that he has not departed from Israel's hope. The cross-reference to Psalms 118:13 (“Yahweh helped me”) echoes a similar confession of deliverance. In every threat, God has been Paul's ally.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Acts 26:22. The Greek text of this verse is stable across the major manuscript traditions, including Papyrus 74, Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, and later minuscules. The variation in English translations (e.g., “help of God” vs. “the help that is from God”) reflects translation choices for the articular Greek construction (τῆς ἐπικουρίας τῆς ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ), not a difference in the underlying text.
Reception History
Early church fathers such as Chrysostom used this verse to argue that the apostles were not innovators but faithful interpreters of the Old Testament. In the Latin tradition, Augustine cited Paul's claim to preach nothing but Moses and the prophets as evidence of the unity of the two testaments. During the Reformation, Protestants appealed to this verse to ground their doctrine of sola Scriptura, the gospel message arises from Scripture alone. Matthew Henry's commentary (1710) calls the agreement between the apostles and the Old Testament “an entire harmony.” In modern evangelical and Catholic teaching, Acts 26:22 is a key text for understanding the continuity between Israel and the church. The phrase “help from God” has been echoed in hymns of deliverance, and the witness “to small and great” inspires evangelism across class and culture.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God as the source of the stand. Paul's survival and boldness come from “help from God,” not from his own strength.
- The universal scope of the witness. Paul testifies to “small and great,” not selecting an audience but reaching all.
- The scriptural substance of the message. Paul says nothing beyond what “the prophets and Moses said would happen.”
Five-point outline
- Divine help sustains the witness. The help (ἐπικουρίας) is an ally's succour, not vague assistance.
- The witness is tested over time. “To this day”, Paul has endured for years, still standing.
- No hierarchy in the gospel. Witness to small and great shows no partiality.
- Continuity, not innovation. Paul's message is exactly what Moses and the prophets foretold.
- The heart of the message. Verse 23 unpacks it: Christ's suffering, resurrection, and light to Jews and Gentiles.
Illustration hooks
- An architect restoring a historic building insists she is using the original blueprints, even when critics say she is changing the design. She does not innovate, she recovers the plan.
- A teacher accused of overhauling the curriculum patiently shows that every lesson comes from the original textbook, not a new syllabus.
- A person who survives a serious illness credits only God's help, not their own resilience. Their testimony, not their strength, becomes the focus.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “If my faith is so old, why does it feel new to people around me?”
- “How can I witness with confidence when I am accused of being irrelevant or outdated?”
- “How do I know whether I am standing on God's help or just my own stubbornness?”
Leading a Discussion
Paul's claim that his message is nothing but what “the prophets and Moses” foretold challenges us to see our own faith in continuity with the whole story of Scripture. This is not a new religion, it is the fulfillment of a very old promise. Consider your own witness: do you present the gospel as a fresh idea or as the ancient hope of Israel?
Discussion questions
- What does Paul mean by “help from God”? How does he connect his preservation to a specific promise?
- Why does Paul emphasize that he witnesses to both “small and great”? What does that say about the gospel's audience?
- Paul says he says “nothing else” than the Scriptures. How can we test our own teaching and witness against the same standard?
- The Jewish leaders accused Paul of teaching against the law. How does Paul turn that accusation on its head in this verse?
- Verse 23 (the next verse) gives the three points: Christ must suffer, rise, and bring light to Jews and Gentiles. How are each of these foretold in the Old Testament?
- In what areas of life are you tempted to think the gospel is a new invention rather than the ancient promise God has been fulfilling?
- How does knowing that God is your ally change how you face opposition in your daily witness?
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)
| I Samuel 7:12 | Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Yahweh helped us until now.” |
| Ezra 8:31 | Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandits by the way. |
| Psalms 18:47 | even the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me. |
| Psalms 66:12 | You allowed men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, but you brought us to the place of abundance. |
| Psalms 118:10 | All the nations surrounded me, but in Yahweh’s name I cut them off. |
| Psalms 118:13 | You pushed me back hard, to make me fall, but Yahweh helped me. |
| Psalms 124:1 | A Song of Ascents. By David. If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, let Israel now say, |
| Psalms 124:3 | then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us, |
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
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that Paul’s ongoing experience of God’s help, despite constant opposition from all classes of people, serves as repeated proof that he has not misunderstood his divine calling. This continual divine support both validates his mission and drives him forward in his work.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights Paul's recognition that his preservation came entirely from God, not from his own efforts or human help. He also notes that Paul's ministry was impartial, reaching both the lowly and the powerful, and that his only message was that Old Testament prophecies had been fulfilled in Christ.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the Greek word for "help" here means the aid of an ally, pointing to God's promise "Surely I will be with thee." Paul's continued standing against all attempts to destroy him comes solely from that divine help, though he acknowledges human agents as God's instruments.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note emphasizes Paul's claim of complete continuity with the Old Testament. Despite opposition, Paul says he preaches nothing beyond what Moses and the prophets already foretold would come, and he credits God's help for enabling him to continue witnessing this same message to everyone.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Paul’s defense rests on the complete harmony between his gospel and the Old Testament. Paul taught nothing beyond what Moses and the prophets foretold about the Messiah, directly refuting the accusation that he opposed the law. This shows the apostles and the prophets are in full agreement on all core doctrines.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB sees Paul's miraculous preservation through constant plots against his life as the very reason he still stands and witnesses. The "help from God" is active support that lets him hold his ground, and God sustains his life specifically so he can continue proclaiming the Gospel.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange observes that Paul's defense before Agrippa is not merely defensive but boldly aggressive: he challenges the rationality of unbelief itself. Unlike his earlier speech in Jerusalem, here Paul puts doubt on trial, demanding it justify itself before the evidence of God's power to raise the dead.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry points out that opposing those who are commissioned by God is ultimately fighting against God himself. Paul's entire defense rests on this: his authority came from a direct heavenly vision, so the Jews who resisted him were not resisting a mere man but the sovereign will of God.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent highlights that the Greek phrase for "help of God" more precisely reads "help that is from God," with the article sharpening the sense of its divine source. He adds that the word for help originally meant alliance, implying a partnership relationship.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights that when every human source of aid had failed, God directly intervened by sending Roman soldiers from the fortress to rescue Paul. This help was not random but the specific fulfillment of a promise God had made earlier to protect him.