Acts 26 · Verse 8

Acts 26:8

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
Acts 26:8, King James Version

Acts 26:8 in other translations

BSBWhy would any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
WEBWhy is it judged incredible with you if God does raise the dead?
ASVWhy is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?
YLTwhy is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?
DARBYWhy should it be judged a thing incredible in your sight if God raises the dead?
BBEWhy, in your opinion, is it outside belief for God to make the dead come to life again?
WebsterWhy should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

What does Acts 26:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. Why should it be thought a thing incredible ... that God should raise the dead?--rather, "Why is it judged a thing incredible if God raises the dead?" the case being viewed as an accomplished fact. No one dared to call in question the overwhelming evidence of the resurrection of Jesus, which proclaimed Him to be the Christ, the Son of God; the only way of getting rid of it, therefore, was to pronounce it incredible. But why, asks the apostle, is it so judged? Leaving this pregnant question to find its answer in the breasts of his audience, he now passes to his personal history.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 8. Why should it be thought, etc. The force of this question will be better seen by an interrogation point after why, τι. "What! Is it to be thought a thing incredible?" etc. It intimates surprise that it should be thought incredible; or implies that no reason could be given why such a doctrine should be unworthy of belief.

A thing incredible. A doctrine which cannot be credited or believed. Why should it be regarded as absurd?

With you. This is in the plural number; and it is evident that Paul here addressed not Agrippa alone, but those who were with him. There is no evidence that Agrippa doubted that the dead could be raised; but Festus, and those who were with him, probably did; and Paul, in the ardour of his speech, turned and addressed the entire assembly. It is very evident that we have only an outline of this argument, and there is every reason to suppose that Paul would dwell on each part of the subject at greater length than is here recorded.

That God should raise the dead. Why should it be regarded as absurd that God--who has all power, who was the Creator of all, who was the Author of the human frame--should again restore man to life, and continue his future existence. The resurrection is no more incredible than the original creation of the human body, and it is attended with no greater difficulties. And as the perfections of God will be illustrated by his raising up the dead; as the future state is necessary to the purposes of justice in vindicating the just, and punishing the unjust; and as God is a righteous moral Governor, it should not be regarded as an absurdity that he will raise up those who have died, and bring them to judgment.

(h) "Why" 1Cor 15:12,20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 That God should raise the dead? - As Agrippa believed in the true God, and knew that one of his attributes was omnipotence, he could not believe that the resurrection of the dead was an impossible thing; and to this belief of his the apostle appeals; and the more especially, because the Sadducees denied the doctrine of the resurrection, though they professed to believe in the same God. Two attributes of God stood pledged to produce this resurrection: his truth, on which his promise was founded; and his power, by which the thing could be easily affected, as that power is unlimited. Some of the best critics think this verse should be read thus: What! should it be thought a thing incredible with you, if God should raise the dead?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 26:1-11

Christianity teaches us to give a reason of the hope that is in us, and also to give honour to whom honour is due, without flattery or fear of man. Agrippa was well versed in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, therefore could the better judge as to the controversy about Jesus being the Messiah. Surely ministers may expect, when they preach the faith of Christ, to be heard patiently. Paul professes that he still…

Read the full comment on Acts 26:1-11 →

Acts 26:8 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τίtiWhyG5101
ἄπιστονapistonincredibleG571
κρίνεταιkrinetaiis it judgedG2919
παρ᾽par᾽byG3844
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
εἰeiifG1487
ὁho<the>G3588
θεὸςtheosGodG2316
νεκροὺςnekrous[the] deadG3498
ἐγείρει;¶egeireiraises?G1453

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 26:8

  • 1 Corinthians 15:12-20

    Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. …

  • Acts 4:2

    Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

  • Acts 17:31-32

    Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

  • Philippians 3:21

    Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

  • Acts 10:40-42

    Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

  • Luke 18:27

    And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

  • Acts 25:19

    But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

  • Acts 13:30-31

    But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

  • Acts 23:6

    But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

  • Genesis 18:14

    Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

  • John 5:28-29

    Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

  • Luke 1:37

    For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4:2; 10:40-42; 13:30,31; 17:31,32; 25:19; Ge 18:14; Mt 22:29-32
Lu 1:37; 18:27; Joh 5:28,29; 1Co 15:12-20; Php 3:21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 26:7

    Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

  • Acts 26:8

    Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

  • Acts 26:9

    I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Read all of Acts 26

Acts 26:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¡Qué! ¿Júzgase cosa increíble entre vosotros que Dios resucite los muertos?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pourquoi, parmi vous, juge-t-on incroyable que Dieu ressuscite des morts?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Warum wird es bei euch für etwas Unglaubliches gehalten, wenn Gott Tote auferweckt?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quid incredibile judicatur apud vos, si Deus mortuos suscitat?