Acts 26

1 THEN Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching out his hand, began his defence:

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

2 I count myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am about to address my defence to thee this day concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews:

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before you concerning all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

3 especially as thou art skilled both in all the customs, and questions which respect the Jews: wherefore I beg the favour of thee to hear me patiently.

Especially because I know you to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I plead to you to hear me patiently.

4 The manner of my life even from my youth, which from its beginning was spent amidst my own nation at Jerusalem, know indeed all the Jews;

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

5 who previously knew me a long while ago, (if they chose to bear testimony, ) that according to the most precise sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

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

6 And this moment for the hope of the promise made of God to our fathers am I standing here to be judged:

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, unto our fathers:

7 which promise our twelve tribes, with fervour night and day worshipping God, hope to attain. For which hope, king Agrippa, I am criminated by the Jews.

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 What! is it judged a thing incredible by you, that God should raise the dead?

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

9 I indeed then thought in myself, that I ought to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarean.

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 at Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were killed, I gave my vote against them.

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 in every synagogue oftentimes punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly maddened with rage against them, I persecuted them even to the cities that are without.

And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

12 In which pursuits, even as I was going to Damascus with authority and a commission from the chief priests,

Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13 at midday, O king, I saw on the road a light from heaven, beyond the splendour of the sun, shining around myself and those who were travelling with me.

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 And as we were all fallen prostrate on the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saving in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is difficult for thee to kick against the goads.

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 persecute you me? it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.

15 Then I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he replied, I am Jesus whom thou art persecuting.

And I said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute.

16 Notwithstanding, arise, and stand on thy feet: for to this end have I appeared to thee, to ordain thee both a minister and a witness of the things which thou hast seen, and of those which I will shew thee;

But rise, and stand upon your feet: for I have appeared unto you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things which you have seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto you;

17 delivering thee both from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send thee,

Delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send you,

18 to open their eyes, to convert them from darkness to light, and from the dominion of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins, and an inheritance with those who are sanctified by faith which is in me.

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 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision:

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

20 but preached first to those at Damascus, and Jerusalem, and to all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, practicing works worthy of repentance.

But showed 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 Because of these things, the Jews seizing me in the temple, attempted to kill me on the spot.

For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

22 Having however obtained help from God, unto this day, I stand witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing but what both the prophets and Moses said should come to pass:

Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

23 that the Messiah should suffer, and that he being the first who should rise from the dead, should display light to the people, and to the Gentiles.

That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

24 As thus he was proceeding in his defence, Festus with a loud voice said, Paul, thou art raving; much reading hath driven thee to madness.

And as he thus spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are out of your mind; much learning does make you mad.

25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but utter words of truth and sobriety.

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

26 For the king is well acquainted with these things, before whom also I speak with the greatest freedom. For I am persuaded that none of these events have escaped his notice; for this thing was not done in a corner.

For the king knows 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, believe you the prophets? I know that you believe.

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

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost you persuade me to be a Christian.

29 And Paul replied, would to God, that not only thou, but also that all who are hearing me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these chains.

And Paul said, I would to God, that not only you, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

30 So when he had thus spoken, the king arose, and the governor, and Bernice, and they who sat with him,

And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

31 and retiring, conversed together, saying, This man hath done nothing worthy of death, or of chains.

And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

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

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