Acts 26:5
in Acts 26They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
having knowledge of me from the first, if they be willing to testify, that after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
KJV
Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
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This verse in Acts 26
Commentary
9 notes on this verse"I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest teaching of our religion." It is remarkable that the Pharisees too were heretics, although they studied and understood the Scriptures better than all other Jewish sects. They understood better, but not truly, because they did not …
This site's exposition
My manner of life from my youth
on Acts 26:4-5
My manner of life from my youth, Paul says, was lived openly at Jerusalem among his own nation, and the Jews who knew him could testify, if they would, that he lived after the most straitest sect of our religion a Pharisee. The if they would testify is a quiet barb, since the same men who could vouch for his former standing are the accusers now refusing to speak. The bench reads this as the same argument Paul made in Philippians 3, his pedigree stated plainly and then set beside what it cost him to leave it, though here the aim is only to establish the credibility no honest court could deny.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews: which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee." Then how should I have become a seditious person, who when young was thus testified of by all? Then too from his sect: "after the most straitest sect" says he, "of our religion I lived." "What then, if though the sect indeed be worthy of admiration, thou art evil?" Touching this also I call all to witness-touching my life and conversation.
They accuse me of sedition, accuse me of heresy, accuse me that I have profaned the temple: "touching all these things I answer for myself:" now that these are not things in accordance with my ways, my accusers themselves are witnesses: "my manner of life from my youth," etc. which is what he says on a former occasion "Being a zealot." And when the whole people was present, then he challenges their testimony. "Know all the Jews," he says, "which knew me from the beginning." And he does not say what kind of life his was, but leaves it to their own conscience, and lays the whole stress on his sect, as he would not have chosen that sect, if he had been a man of evil disposition and bad character.
The Medieval Church1 voice
For according to the most accurate sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. For "sect," in Greek it has "heresy." Whence it is proved that at that time even a good sect was called by this term among the Greeks, which now among …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Which knew me from the beginning,....
(1.) His religion is built upon the promise made of God unto the fathers. It is built upon divine revelation, which he receives and believes, and ventures his soul upon; it is built upon divine grace, and that grace manifested and conveyed by promise.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Which knew me - Who were well acquainted with me. From the beginning - ἄνωθεν anōthen. Formerly; or from the very commencement of my career. Who were perfectly apprised of my whole course. If they would testify - If they would bear witness to what they know. That after the most straitest - The most rigid; the most strict, not only in regard to the written Law of God, but to the traditions of the elders.
After the most straitest sect - That is, the Pharisees; who were reputed the strictest in their doctrines, and in their moral practices, of all the sects then among the Jews. The sects were the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| προγινώσκοντές | proginoskontes | knowing | G4267 → | |
| με | me | me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἄνωθεν, | anothen | from the first, | G509 → | |
| ἐὰν | ean | if | G1437 → | 352 times |
| θέλωσιν | thelosin | they may be willing | G2309 → | 208 times |
| μαρτυρεῖν | marturein | to testify | G3140 → | 76 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| κατὰ | kata | according to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀκριβεστάτην | akribestaten | strictest | G196 → | |
| αἵρεσιν | airesin | sect | G139 → | 9 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἡμετέρας | hemeteras | of our own | G1473 → | 839 times |
| θρησκείας | threskeias | religion | G2356 → | |
| ἔζησα | ezesa | I lived [as] | G2198 → | 139 times |
| Φαρισαῖος· | pharisaios | a Pharisee; | G5330 → | 97 times |
προγινώσκοντέςknowing
proginoskontesG4267 →
μεme
meG3165 →1936 times
ἄνωθεν,from the first,
anothenG509 →
ἐὰνif
eanG1437 →352 times
θέλωσινthey may be willing
thelosinG2309 →208 times
μαρτυρεῖνto testify
martureinG3140 →76 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
κατὰaccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἀκριβεστάτηνstrictest
akribestatenG196 →
αἵρεσινsect
airesinG139 →9 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἡμετέραςof our own
hemeterasG1473 →839 times
θρησκείαςreligion
threskeiasG2356 →
ἔζησαI lived [as]
ezesaG2198 →139 times
Φαρισαῖος·a Pharisee;
pharisaiosG5330 →97 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 22:3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just…
it leads to
- Philippians 3:5–6
circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
- Acts 9:11
“Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
- Acts 5:34
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time.
- Philippians 3:5–6
Through
Acts 23:6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in…
it leads to
- Acts 24:21
unless it was this one thing I called out as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”
- Acts 24:15
and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
- Acts 24:21
Through
Acts 24:5We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,
it leads to
- Acts 28:22
But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”
- Acts 24:14
I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and…
- Acts 28:22
Through
Acts 24:14I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and…
it leads to
- Acts 9:2
and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
- Acts 9:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Acts of the Apostles; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Retractions on Acts; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 52; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.
