Acts 26

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

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

2 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;

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

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

especially because thou art acquainted with all the 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 was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem, all Jews know:

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

5 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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

10 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.

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.

11 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.

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].

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

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

13 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.

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.

14 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.

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.

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 the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:

16 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;

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,

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

taking thee out from among the people, and the nations, to whom 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 forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among the sanctified, by faith 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 remission of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.

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

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

20 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.

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.

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

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

22 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;

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,

23 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.

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

24 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.

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.

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

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

26 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

29 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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