Albert Barnes Commentary Acts 26:1

"And Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defence:" — Acts 26:1 (ASV)

CHAPTER 26

Then Paul stretched forth the hand. See Barnes on Acts 21:40.

This was the usual posture of orators or public speakers. Ancient statues are commonly made in this way, with the right hand extended. The dress of the ancients favored this. The long and loose robe, or outer garment, was usually fastened with a hook or clasp on the right shoulder, and thus left the arm at full liberty.

And answered for himself. It cannot be supposed that Paul expected his defense would result in a release from confinement, for he had himself appealed to the Roman emperor (Acts 25:11). His purpose in speaking before Agrippa was, doubtless:

1. to vindicate his character and obtain Agrippa's attestation to his innocence, so that he might thus allay the anger of the Jews;
2. to obtain a correct representation of the case for the emperor, as Festus had desired this, so that Agrippa might enable him to make a fair statement of the case (Acts 25:26, 27); and,
3. to defend his own conversion and the truth of Christianity, and to preach the gospel in the hearing of Agrippa and the attendants, with the hope that their minds might be improved by the truth and that they might be converted to God.