26:1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for
thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for
himself:
26:2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer
for myself this day before thee, concerning all the things of
which I am accused by the Jews:
26:3 Especially, [because I know] thee to be expert in all
customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I
beseech thee to hear me patiently.
26:4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first
among my own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews,
26:5 Who knew me from the beginning, (if they would testify)
that after the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a
Pharisee.
26:6 And now I stand, and am judged for the hope of the promise
made by God to our fathers:
26:7 To which [promise] our twelve tribes, assiduously serving
[God] day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king
Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.
26:8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that
God should raise the dead?
26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many
things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
26:10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the
saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from
the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my
voice against [them].
26:11 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.
26:12 Upon which as I went to Damascus, with authority and
commission from the chief priests,
26:13 At mid-day, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven,
surpassing the brightness of the sun, shining around me, and
them who journeyed with me.
26:14 And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice
speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul,
why persecutest thou me? [It is] hard for thee to kick against
the goads.
26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus
whom thou persecutest.
26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared to
thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness
both of the things which thou hast seen, and of the things in
which I will appear to thee;
26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the Gentiles,
to whom now I send thee,
26:18 To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to
light, and [from] the power of Satan to God, that they may
receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them who are
sanctified by faith that is in me.
26:19 Upon which O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the
heavenly vision.
26:20 But showed first to them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem,
and throughout all the region of Judea, and [then] to the
Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works
meet for repentance.
26:21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and
went about to kill [me].
26:22 Having therefore obtained help from God, I continue to
this day, testifying both to small and great, saying no other
things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should
come:
26:23 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.
26:24 And as he was thus speaking for himself, Festus said with
a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth
make thee insane.
26:25 But he said, I am not insane, most noble Festus; but speak
forth the words of truth and soberness.
26:26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I
speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things are
hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
26:27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that
thou believest.
26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be
a Christian.
26:29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but
also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and
altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
26:30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose, and the
governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
26:31 And when they had gone aside, they talked between
themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death, or
of bonds.
26:32 Then said Agrippa to Festus, This man might have been set
at liberty, if he had not appealed to Cesar.
|