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 said to Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

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 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:

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.

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

My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among my own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews,

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.

Who knew me from the beginning, (if they would testify) that after the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.

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 judged for the hope of the promise made by God to 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.

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.

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 with you, that God should raise the dead?

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

I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus 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 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 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 often in every synagogue, and compelled [them] to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted [them] even to foreign cities.

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

Upon which as I went to Damascus, with authority and commission from the chief 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 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.

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.

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.

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

And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus 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 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;

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

Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the Gentiles, to 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, [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.

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

Upon which O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly 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 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.

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

For these causes the Jews 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,

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:

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.

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.

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 was thus speaking for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee insane.

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

But he said, I am not insane, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

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

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

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

Then Agrippa said to Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be 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.

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 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, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat 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 had gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death, or of bonds.

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

Then said Agrippa to Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Cesar.