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:

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

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 think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of 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 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 was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem, all Jews know:

My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at 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.

Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest 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 and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto 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.

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

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise 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 verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

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

12 And as I was going to Damascus on this business, 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 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 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 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 earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

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 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, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

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

Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto 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 forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among the sanctified, by faith 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 Wherefore, 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 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 shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

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

For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill 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 obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

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.

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

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

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

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the 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 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 Then Agrippa said to Paul, With little effort thou thinkest to persuade me to become a Christian.

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be 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, 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 rose up and the governor and Bernice, and those who sat with them;

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

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

And when they were 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 set at liberty, 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 Cæsar.