Acts 26

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

And Agrippa said to Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand and made his defence:

2 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.

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defence this day before thee concerning all things of which I am accused by the Jews;

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

especially as thou art acquainted with all the customs and questions among the Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

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

My manner of life, then, from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem, all Jews know:

5 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.

and they know, if they are willing to testify, that from the first, according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.

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

And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to the fathers,

7 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.

which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God day and night, hope to obtain; concerning which hope, O king, I am accused by Jews.

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

Why is it judged incredible with you if God raiseth the dead?

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

I indeed thought with myself that I ought to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene.

10 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.

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

11 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.

And I punished them often in all the synagogues, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.

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

And as I was going to Damascus on this business, with authority and a commission from the chief priests,

13 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.

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

14 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.

And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads.

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

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

16 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,

But arise and stand upon thy feet; for I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to prepare thee as a minister and a witness both of the things which thou sawest, and of those on account of which I will appear to thee;

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

delivering thee from the people, and from the gentiles, to whom I send thee,

18 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.

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

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

Wherefore, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision;

20 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.

but first to those in Damascus, and Jerusalem, and to all the country of Judaea, and then to the gentiles, I proclaimed that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

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

For these causes the Jews seized me in the temple, and attempted to kill me.

22 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,

Having, however, obtained help from God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing except those things which the Prophets and Moses said were to come to pass;

23 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.

that the Christ should suffer, and that, as first of those raised from the dead, he was to proclaim light both to the people and to the gentiles.

24 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.

And as he was thus speaking in his defence, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning is making thee mad.

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

But he saith, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but utter words of truth and soberness.

26 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.

For the king knoweth about these things well; to whom also I speak boldly; for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him: for this was not done in a corner.

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

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

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

Then Agrippa said to Paul, With little effort thou thinkest to persuade me to become a Christian.

29 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.

And Paul said, I would to God, that with little effort or with great, not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, might be made such as I am, except these bonds.

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

And the king rose up and the governor and Bernice, and those who sat with them;

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

and going aside they talked with each other, saying, This man is doing nothing deserving death, or bonds.

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

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