Acts 26

1. And Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

2. “Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself blessed in being able to make my defense before you today,

3. Especially since you are acquainted with all the customs and questions among the Jews; therefore, I beseech you to hear me patiently.

4. The manner of my life from childhood, which from the beginning was among my nation in Jerusalem, all the Jews know;

5. Who knew me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I formerly lived as a Pharisee.

6. And I now stand in judgment for the hope of the promise made by God to the fathers;

7. Unto which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to come. Concerning this hope I am accused, O King Agrippa, by the Jews.

8. Why do you find it incredible that God would raise the dead?

9. For this very reason, I truly thought in myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarean,

10. Which I also did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints I shut up in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my full consent against them.

11. And by punishing them often in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme. And being exceedingly furious against them, I persecuted them even as far as to foreign cities.

12. During this time, I was journeying to Damascus with authorization and a commission from the chief priests,

13. When I saw on the road at midday, O king, a light from heaven, surpassing the brightness of the sun, shine around me and those who were traveling with me.

14. Then all of us fell to the ground; and I heard a voice speak to me, saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.’

15. And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting.

16. Now arise, and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you as a minister and a witness both of what you have seen and what I shall reveal to you.

17. I am personally selecting you from among the people and the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,

18. To open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified through faith in Me.’

19. Upon hearing this, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision;

20. For I preached to those in Damascus first, and then to Jerusalem, and to all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, declaring that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

21. On account of these things, the Jews seized me in the temple and attempted to kill me.

22. So then, having obtained help from God unto this day, I have stood, bearing witness both to the small and the great, saying nothing else than what both the prophets and Moses said would happen:

23. That Christ would suffer, and that He would be the first to be raised from the dead, and to proclaim light to the people and to the Gentiles.”

24. And while he was uttering these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “You are out of your mind, Paul; much learning has turned you to madness.”

25. But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but I utter true and rational words.

26. For the king, to whom I speak with boldness, is informed of these things. For I am convinced that none of these things are hidden from him; for this has not been done in a corner.

27. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”

28. Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Will you persuade me to become a Christian in such a little time?”

29. And Paul said, “I wish to God that in both a little time and in much, not only you, but also all those who are listening to me this day, would become such as I am, except for these bonds.”

30. And after he said these things, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice also, and those who sat with them.

31. And when they had withdrawn, they spoke to one another, saying, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or of bonds.”

32. Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”