Acts 26:23

That Christ should suffer, and that hee should be the first that should rise from the dead, & should shew light vnto the people, and to the Gentiles.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

that the Christ was to suffer, {and} that by reason of {His} resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the {Jewish} people and to the Gentiles."
- New American Standard Version (1995)

how that the Christ must suffer, `and' how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.
- American Standard Version (1901)

That the Christ would go through pain, and being the first to come back from the dead, would give light to the people and to the Gentiles.
- Basic English Bible

[namely,] whether Christ should suffer; whether he first, through resurrection of [the] dead, should announce light both to the people and to the nations.
- Darby Bible

That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the Gentiles.
- Webster's Bible

since the Christ was to be a suffering Christ, and by coming back from the dead was then to be the first to proclaim a message of light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
- Weymouth Bible

how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles."
- World English Bible

if Crist is to suffre, if he is the firste of the ayenrising of deed men, that schal schewe liyt to the puple and to hethene men.
- Wycliffe Bible

that the Christ is to suffer, whether first by a rising from the dead, he is about to proclaim light to the people and to the nations.'
- Youngs Literal Bible

Wesley's Notes for Acts 26:23

26:21 For these things - The apostle now applies all that he had said.

26:22 Having obtained help from God - When all other help failed, God sent the Romans from the castle, and so fulfilled the promise he had made, #Acts 26:17|.

26:24 Festus said, Paul, thou art beside thyself - To talk of men's rising from the dead! And of a Jew's enlightening not only his own nation, but tho polite and learned Greeks and Romans! Nay, Festus, it is thou that art beside thyself. That strikest quite wide of the mark. And no wonder: he saw that nature did not act in Paul; but the grace that acted in him he did not see. And therefore he took all this ardour which animated the apostle for a mere start of learned phrensy.

26:25 I am not mad, most excellent Festus - The style properly belonging to a Roman propretor. How inexpressibly beautiful is this reply! How strong! yet how decent and respectful! Mad men seldom call men by their names, and titles of honour. Thus also St. Paul refutes the charge. But utter the words of truth (confirmed in the next verse) and sobriety - The very reverse of madness. And both these remain, even when the men of God act with the utmost vehemence.