Acts 26:11
What does Acts 26:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 26:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 26:11 means
Paul adds that he often punished believers in synagogues, tried to force them to blaspheme, and, driven by extreme rage, pursued them even to foreign cities. His description reveals the violence and coercion of his campaign. He hunted Christians beyond local boundaries, showing relentless zeal. This confession is sobering: religion without Christ can breed hostility toward Christ’s people. Yet it sets the stage for grace to shine—God interrupts this fury with mercy. Paul’s later compassion and endurance under persecution mirror the transformation Jesus worked in him, redirecting his zeal from destroying the church to building it through preaching Christ crucified and risen.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I gave them punishment frequently, in all the Synagogues, forcing them to say things against God; and burning with passion against them, I went after them even into far-away towns.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and in every synagogue, often punishing them, I was constraining <FI>them<Fi> to speak evil, being also exceedingly mad against them, I was also persecuting <FI>them<Fi> even unto strange cities.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And oftentimes punishing them, in every synagogue, I compelled them to blaspheme: and being yet more mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And often punishing them in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme. And, being exceedingly furious against them, I persecuted them even to cities out [of our own land].
Context
This completes Paul’s summary of his past persecution (vv.9–11). The narrative now transitions to the turning point: the journey to Damascus (v.12) where divine confrontation occurs (vv.13–15) and a commission is given (vv.16–18). By painting his prior rage vividly, Paul makes clear that no human persuasion or convenience prompted his conversion; only a heavenly vision could reverse such determined hostility.
v.10And this I also did in Jerusalem: and I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.
v.11This passage
v.12Whereupon as I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ecclesiastes 9:3
This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
- Hebrews 10:28
A man that hath set at nought Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses:
- Mark 13:9
But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in synagogues shall ye be beaten; and before governors and kings shall ye stand for my sake, for a testimony unto them.
- Luke 6:11
But they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
- Acts 9:1
But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
- Acts 22:5
As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and journeyed to Damascus to bring them also that were there unto Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
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