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Chapter 26
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1
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Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to
speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand,
and answered for himself: |
2
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I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall
answer for myself this day before thee touching all the
things whereof I am accused of the Jews: |
3
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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. |
4
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My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first
among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; |
5
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Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify,
that after the most straitest sect of our religion I
lived a Pharisee. |
6
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And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise
made of God, unto our fathers: |
7
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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. |
8
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Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you,
that God should raise the dead? |
9
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I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many
things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. |
10
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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. |
11
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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. |
12
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Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and
commission from the chief priests, |
13
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At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven,
above the brightness of the sun, shining round about
me and them which journeyed with me. |
14
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And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a
voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue,
Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee
to kick against the pricks. |
15
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And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus
whom thou persecutest. |
16
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But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared
unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and
a witness both of these things which thou hast seen,
and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; |
17
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Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles,
unto whom now I send thee, |
18
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To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness
to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that
they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance
among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. |
19
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Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto
the heavenly vision: |
20
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But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem,
and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to
the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God,
and do works meet for repentance. |
21
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For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple,
and went about to kill me. |
22
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Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto
this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying
none other things than those which the prophets and Moses
did say should come: |
23
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That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the
first that should rise from the dead, and should shew
light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. |
24
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And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with
a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning
doth make thee mad. |
25
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But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak
forth the words of truth and soberness. |
26
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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. |
27
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King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that
thou believest. |
28
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Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest
me to be a Christian. |
29
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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. |
30
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And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and
the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: |
31
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And when they were gone aside, they talked between
themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of
death or of bonds. |
32
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Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have
been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar. |
