Acts 26:11
New International Version
Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

New Living Translation
Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.

English Standard Version
And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Berean Standard Bible
I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

Berean Literal Bible
And in all the synagogues, punishing them often, I was compelling them to blaspheme. And being exceedingly furious against them, I kept persecuting them even as far as to foreign cities,

King James Bible
And 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.

New King James Version
And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

New American Standard Bible
And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was extremely enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.

NASB 1995
“And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.

NASB 1977
“And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.

Legacy Standard Bible
And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.

Amplified Bible
And I often punished them [making them suffer] in all the synagogues and tried to force them to blaspheme; and in my extreme rage at them, I kept hunting them even to foreign cities [harassing and persecuting them].

Christian Standard Bible
In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme. Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In all the synagogues I often tried to make them blaspheme by punishing them. I even pursued them to foreign cities since I was greatly enraged at them.”

American Standard Version
And 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.

Contemporary English Version
I often had them punished in our synagogues, and I tried to make them give up their faith. In fact, I was so angry with them, that I went looking for them in foreign cities.

English Revised Version
And 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I even went to each synagogue, punished believers, and forced them to curse [the name of Jesus]. In my furious rage against them, I hunted them down in cities outside [Jerusalem].

Good News Translation
Many times I had them punished in the synagogues and tried to make them deny their faith. I was so furious with them that I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

International Standard Version
I would even punish them frequently in every synagogue and try to make them blaspheme. Raging furiously against them, I would hunt them down even in distant cities.

Majority Standard Bible
I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

NET Bible
I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to force them to blaspheme. Because I was so furiously enraged at them, I went to persecute them even in foreign cities.

New Heart English Bible
Punishing them often in all the synagogues, I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Weymouth New Testament
In all the synagogues also I punished them many a time, and tried to make them blaspheme; and in my wild fury I chased them even to foreign towns.

World English Bible
Punishing them often in all the synagogues, I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and in every synagogue, often punishing them, I was constraining [them] to speak evil, being also exceedingly mad against them, I was also persecuting [them] even to strange cities.

Berean Literal Bible
And in all the synagogues, punishing them often, I was compelling them to blaspheme. And being exceedingly furious against them, I kept persecuting them even as far as to foreign cities,

Young's Literal Translation
and in every synagogue, often punishing them, I was constraining them to speak evil, being also exceedingly mad against them, I was also persecuting them even unto strange cities.

Smith's Literal Translation
And in all the synagogues, many times punishing them, I compelled to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I drove out even also to cities without.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And 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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And in every synagogue, frequently while punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme. And being all the more maddened against them, I persecuted them, even to foreign cities.

New American Bible
Many times, in synagogue after synagogue, I punished them in an attempt to force them to blaspheme; I was so enraged against them that I pursued them even to foreign cities.

New Revised Standard Version
By punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was so furiously enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I tortured them in every synagogue, thus compelling them to blaspheme the name of Jesus; and being exceedingly mad against them, I also went to other cities to persecute them.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And I was torturing them in every Synagogue as I was pressing them to blaspheme the name of Yeshua, and I was filled with great rage against them. I was also going out to other cities to persecute them.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to speak impiously; and, being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Godbey New Testament
and throughout all the synagogues, frequently punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceeding mad against them, I was persecuting them even also unto foreign cities.

Haweis New Testament
And in every synagogue oftentimes punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly maddened with rage against them, I persecuted them even to the cities that are without.

Mace New Testament
it was I that persecuted them from synagogue to synagogue, and tortured them even to blaspheme: and in the transport of my rage I pursued them to foreign cities.

Weymouth New Testament
In all the synagogues also I punished them many a time, and tried to make them blaspheme; and in my wild fury I chased them even to foreign towns.

Worrell New Testament
and, punishing them often throughout all the synagogues, I was compelling them to blaspheme; and, being exceedingly enraged against them, I was persecuting them even unto foreign cities.

Worsley New Testament
And often punishing them in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme, and being excessively enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Testimony to Agrippa
10And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them. 12In this pursuit I was on my way to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.…

Cross References
Acts 8:3
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

Acts 9:1-2
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest / 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 22:4-5
I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison, / as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.

Galatians 1:13
For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.

1 Timothy 1:13
I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.

Philippians 3:6
as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.

John 16:2
They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.

Matthew 10:17
But beware of men, for they will hand you over to their councils and flog you in their synagogues.

Acts 7:58
They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Acts 22:19
‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.

Acts 9:13-14
But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. / And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”

Acts 22:20
And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’

Acts 9:21
All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

Acts 26:9-10
So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. / And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.

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 was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.


Treasury of Scripture

And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to strange cities.

I punished.

Acts 22:19
And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

Matthew 10:17
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

Mark 13:9
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

compelled.

Acts 13:45
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Acts 18:6
And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

Mark 3:28
Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

mad.

Acts 26:24,25
And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad…

Ecclesiastes 9:3
This is an evil among all things that are 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.

Luke 6:11
And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

Jump to Previous
Blaspheme Burning Chased Cities Compelled Enraged Exceedingly Far-Away Force Forcing Foreign Frequently Furiously Fury Kept Mad Oft Often Oftentimes Persecute Persecuted Punished Punishing Punishment Raging Strange Strove Synagogue Synagogues Towns Tried Wild
Jump to Next
Blaspheme Burning Chased Cities Compelled Enraged Exceedingly Far-Away Force Forcing Foreign Frequently Furiously Fury Kept Mad Oft Often Oftentimes Persecute Persecuted Punished Punishing Punishment Raging Strange Strove Synagogue Synagogues Towns Tried Wild
Acts 26
1. Paul, in the presence of Agrippa, declares his life from his childhood;
12. and how miraculously he was converted, and called to his apostleship.
24. Festus charges him with being insane, whereunto he answers modestly.
28. Agrippa is almost persuaded to be a Christian.
31. The whole company pronounces him innocent.














I frequently had them punished in the synagogues
The phrase "I frequently had them punished" indicates a repeated and systematic approach to persecution. The Greek word for "punished" here is "τιμωρέω" (timōreō), which implies a form of retribution or vengeance. The synagogues were central places of worship and community for the Jewish people, and using them as venues for punishment underscores the severity and public nature of the actions taken against early Christians. Historically, synagogues served as both religious and communal centers, making them strategic locations for enforcing religious conformity.

and I tried to make them blaspheme
The word "blaspheme" comes from the Greek "βλασφημέω" (blasphēmeō), meaning to speak irreverently about God or sacred things. Saul's (later Paul) efforts to force Christians to blaspheme highlight the intense pressure and coercion they faced. This act of trying to make believers renounce their faith under duress reflects the spiritual warfare and the high stakes of early Christian witness. It also shows the depth of Saul's zeal against what he perceived as a heretical movement.

In my raging fury against them
"Raging fury" translates from the Greek "περισσῶς ἐμμαινόμενος" (perissōs emmainomenos), which conveys an overwhelming, irrational anger. This phrase captures the intensity of Saul's emotions and actions against Christians. His fury was not just a personal vendetta but was fueled by a misguided zeal for the Jewish law and traditions. This highlights the transformation that would later occur in Saul's life, as he moved from a place of blind rage to one of grace and truth.

I went to foreign cities to persecute them
The phrase "foreign cities" indicates the extent and reach of Saul's mission to eradicate the Christian faith. The Greek word "ἔξω" (exō) means outside or beyond, suggesting that Saul's persecution was not limited to Jerusalem but extended to other regions. This reflects the early spread of Christianity and the lengths to which Saul was willing to go to suppress it. Historically, this also points to the interconnectedness of the Roman Empire, where travel between cities was possible, allowing for the rapid dissemination of both persecution and the Gospel.

(11) Compelled them to blaspheme.--The verb is in the imperfect tense, which may express either continued or incomplete action. It does not follow, therefore, that any of the believers yielded to the pressure; and the words may be paraphrased, I went on trying to compel them.

Being exceedingly mad against them.--The words express, with a wonderful vividness, St. Paul's retrospective analysis of his former state. It was not only that he acted in ignorance (1Timothy 1:13), he might plead also the temporary insanity of fanaticism.

Even unto strange cities.--The words show that the mission to Damascus was not a solitary instance, and the persecution may well have raged in the regions of Samaria and Galilee through which the Apostle passed. (See Note on Acts 9:3.)

Verse 11. - Punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme for I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme, A.V.; foreign for strange, A.V. In all the synagogues. Those in Jerusalem, as the contrast of the foreign cities shows. (For the facts, see Acts 8:1, 3.) I strove, etc. The "compelled" of the A.V. is the natural rendering of ἠνάγκαζον (Matthew 14:22; Luke 14:23; Acts 28:19, etc.); but it does not necessarily follow that the compulsion was successful. It might be in some cases, and not in others. Pliny, in his letter to Trajan, says that those who were accused of being Christians cleared themselves by calling upon the gods, offering to the image of the emperor, and cursing Christ, none of which things, it is said, true Christians ("qui sunt revera Christiani") can be compelled to do ('Epist.,' 10, 95, quoted by Kuinoel). Mad against them; ἐμμαινόμενος αὐτοῖς, only here; but the adjective ἐμμανής, frantic, is not uncommon in classical writers.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
I frequently had them punished
τιμωρῶν (timōrōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5097: To punish, avenge myself on. From a comparative of time and ouros; properly, to protect one's honor, i.e. To avenge.

in
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

the
τὰς (tas)
Article - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

synagogues
συναγωγὰς (synagōgas)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4864: From sunago; an assemblage of persons; specially, a Jewish 'synagogue'; by analogy, a Christian church.

[and] tried to make [them]
ἠνάγκαζον (ēnankazon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 315: To force, compel, constrain, urge. From anagke; to necessitate.

blaspheme.
βλασφημεῖν (blasphēmein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 987: From blasphemos; to vilify; specially, to speak impiously.

In my raging fury
ἐμμαινόμενος (emmainomenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1693: To be madly enraged with. From en and mainomai; to rave on, i.e. Rage at.

against them,
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

{I} even
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[went]
ἕως (heōs)
Preposition
Strong's 2193: A conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

foreign
ἔξω (exō)
Adverb
Strong's 1854: Without, outside. Adverb from ek; out(-side, of doors), literally or figuratively.

cities
πόλεις (poleis)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4172: A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town.

to persecute [them].
ἐδίωκον (ediōkon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.


Links
Acts 26:11 NIV
Acts 26:11 NLT
Acts 26:11 ESV
Acts 26:11 NASB
Acts 26:11 KJV

Acts 26:11 BibleApps.com
Acts 26:11 Biblia Paralela
Acts 26:11 Chinese Bible
Acts 26:11 French Bible
Acts 26:11 Catholic Bible

NT Apostles: Acts 26:11 Punishing them often in all the synagogues (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 26:10
Top of Page
Top of Page