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 stretching forth his hand, thus made 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;

"O king Agrippa, I think myself happy, that I am this day to make my defence before thee, concerning all the things which I am accused of 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 as thou art acquainted with all the customs and questions which are among the Jews; wherefore I intreat 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, as it has been from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews are acquainted with,

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.

knowing me before, (if they would testify it, ) 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 arraigned for the hope of the promise which was 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 promise our twelve tribes, worshipping continually night and day, hope to attain: concerning which hope, O king Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

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

What! is it judged incredible by 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 indeed once thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarene:

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 I also did in Jerusalem; and I shut up many of the saints in prison, having received authority for it 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 often punishing them in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme, and being excessively enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

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

On which accounts as I was going to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests---at mid-day,

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.

O king, as I was on the way thither I saw a light from heaven exceeding the splendor of the sun, shining round about me and those that were going 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 down to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute 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 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 on thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things which thou hast seen, and of those for which I shall hereafter 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, to whom I now 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 an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.

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

Wherefore, O 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 declared first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, and through all the country of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, and turn unto God, performing works suitable to repentance.

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

For these things the Jews seized me in the temple, and attempted 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;

But having obtained help of God, I continue until this day, testifying both to small and great, and saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses declared should come to pass; even that the Messiah should suffer,

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.

and being the first of the resurrection from the dead should bring light to 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 was saying these things in his defence, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning turns thy brain.

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

But he replied, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but I speak the words of truth and of a sound mind.

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, to whom also I speak with freedom; because I am persuaded that none of them are unknown to him; for this was not done in a corner.

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

O king Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?

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

I know that thou believest them. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou almost 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 said this, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and those 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 retired, they spake to each other, saying, this man hath done 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 set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Cesar.