Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 26:28

"And Agrippa [said] unto Paul, With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian." — Acts 26:28 (ASV)

Paul’s direct question embarrassed Agrippa. He had his reputation to maintain before Festus and the other dignitaries. Whatever he may have thought about Paul’s message personally, he was too worldly-wise to commit himself in public to what others thought was madness. So he parried Paul’s question with his own clever, though rather inane, one: “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” The KJV’s translation of this reply, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian,” has become one of the famous quotations in history. It has inspired countless sermons and even a gospel hymn. Nevertheless, “almost” is not what Agrippa said.