Acts 26

1 And Agrippa said to Paul, It is permitted thee to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching out his hand answered in his defence:

Then Agrippa sayd vnto Paul, Thou art permitted to speake for thy selfe. So Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himselfe.

2 I count myself happy, king Agrippa, in having to answer to-day before thee concerning all of which I am accused by the Jews,

I thinke my selfe happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answere this day before thee of all the things whereof I am accused of the Iewes.

3 especially because thou art acquainted with all the customs and questions which are among the Jews; wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

Chiefly, because thou hast knowledge of all customes, and questions which are among the Iewes: wherefore I beseech thee, to heare me patiently.

4 My manner of life then from my youth, which from its commencement was passed among my nation in Jerusalem, know all the Jews,

As touching my life from my childhood, and what it was from the beginning among mine owne nation at Hierusalem, know all the Iewes,

5 who knew me before from the outset [of my life], if they would bear witness, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

Which knewe me heretofore, euen from my elders (if they would testifie) that after the most straite sect of our religion I liued a Pharise.

6 And now I stand to be judged because of the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,

And now I stand and am accused for the hope of the promise made of God vnto our fathers.

7 to which our whole twelve tribes serving incessantly day and night hope to arrive; about which hope, O king, I am accused of [the] Jews.

Whereunto our twelue tribes instantly seruing God day and night, hope to come: for the which hopes sake, O King Agrippa, I am accused of the Iewes.

8 Why should it be judged a thing incredible in your sight if God raises the dead?

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

9 I indeed myself thought that I ought to do much against the name of Jesus the Nazaraean.

I also verely thought in my selfe, that I ought to doe many contrarie things against the Name of Iesus of Nazareth.

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

Which thing I also did in Hierusalem: for many of the Saints I shut vp in prison, hauing receiued authoritie of the hie Priests, and when they were put to death, I gaue my sentence.

11 And often punishing them in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme. And, being exceedingly furious against them, I persecuted them even to cities out [of our own land].

And I punished them throughout all the Synagogues, and compelled them to blaspheme, and being more mad against them, I persecuted them, euen vnto strange cities.

12 And when, [engaged] in this, I was journeying to Damascus, with authority and power from the chief priests,

At which time, euen as I went to Damascus with authoritie, and commission from the hie Priests,

13 at mid-day, on the way, I saw, O king, a light above the brightness of the sun, shining from heaven round about me and those who were journeying with me.

At midday, O King, I sawe in the way a light from heauen, passing the brightnes of the sunne, shine round about mee, and them which went with me.

14 And, when we were all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [it is] hard for thee to kick against goads.

So when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voyce speaking vnto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kicke against pricks.

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:

Then I sayd, Who art thou, Lord? And he sayd, I am Iesus whom thou persecutest.

16 but rise up and stand on thy feet; for, for this purpose have I appeared to thee, to appoint thee to be a servant and a witness both of what thou hast seen, and of what I shall appear to thee in,

But rise and stand vp on thy feete: for I haue appeared vnto thee for this purpose, to appoint thee a minister and a witnesse, both of the things which thou hast seene, and of the things in the which I will appeare vnto thee,

17 taking thee out from among the people, and the nations, to whom I send thee,

Deliuering thee from this people, and from the Gentiles, vnto whom now I send thee,

18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.

To open their eyes, that they may turne from darknes to light, and from the power of Satan vnto God, that they may receiue forgiuenes of sinnes, and inheritance among them, which are sanctified by fayth in me.

19 Whereupon, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision;

Wherefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient vnto the heauenly vision,

20 but have, first to those both in Damascus and Jerusalem, and to all the region of Judaea, and to the nations, announced that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

But shewed first vnto them of Damascus, and at Hierusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Iudea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turne to God, and doe workes worthy amendment of life.

21 On account of these things the Jews, having seized me in the temple, attempted to lay hands on and destroy me.

For this cause the Iewes caught me in the Temple, and went about to kill me.

22 Having therefore met with [the] help which is from God, I have stood firm unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing else than those things which both the prophets and Moses have said should happen,

Neuertheles, I obteined helpe of God, and continue vnto this day, witnessing both to small and to great, saying none other things, then those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come,

23 [namely, ] whether Christ should suffer; whether he first, through resurrection of [the] dead, should announce light both to the people and to the nations.

To wit, that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light vnto this people, and to the Gentiles.

24 And as he answered for his defence with these things, Festus says with a loud voice, Thou art mad, Paul; much learning turns thee to madness.

And as he thus answered for himselfe, Festus said with a loude voyce, Paul, thou art besides thy selfe: much learning doeth make thee mad.

25 But Paul said, I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but utter words of truth and soberness;

But he said, I am not mad, O noble Festus, but I speake the wordes of trueth and sobernes.

26 for the king is informed about these things, to whom also I speak with all freedom. For I am persuaded that of these things nothing is hidden from him; for this was not done in a corner.

For the King knoweth of these things, before whom also I speake boldly: for I am perswaded that none of these things are hidden from him: for this thing was not done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

O King Agrippa, beleeuest thou the Prophets? I know that thou beleeuest.

28 And Agrippa [said] to Paul, In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian.

Then Agrippa said vnto Paul, Almost thou perswadest me to become a Christian.

29 And Paul [said], I would to God, both in little and in much, that not only thou, but all who have heard me this day, should become such as I also am, except these bonds.

Then Paul sayd, I would to God that not onely thou, but also all that heare me to day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

30 And the king stood up, and the governor and Bernice, and those who sat with them,

And when he had thus spoken, the King rose vp, and the gouernour, and Bernice, and they that sate with them.

31 and having gone apart, they spoke to one another saying, This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

And when they were gone apart, they talked betweene themselues, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death, nor of bonds.

32 And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been let go if he had not appealed to Caesar.

Then sayd Agrippa vnto Festus, This man might haue bene loosed, if hee had not appealed vnto Cesar.