1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: 2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: 3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. (Acts 26:1-3 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. The person whom the apostle makes his defence before: Agrippa, Agrippa a king of whom he begs the favour patiently to hear him. It is a great favour for great men so much as to hear an innocent, good man plead for himself; Agrippa, who, because of his birth and breeding among the Jews, was acquainted with the scriptures, the law, and the prophets.
Observe, 2. How the providence of God wonderfully procures St. Paul a liberty to speak for himself: hereby he had an opportunity at once to make known his case and to publish the gospel.
But note further, That as the providence of God procured him liberty, so the good Spirit of God gave him the ability to speak efficaciously and effectually, with such evidence and demonstration that he did not only take the ears but captivated the consciences of the whole court and almost persuaded King Agrippa himself to turn Christian.