Acts 26

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

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

2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee, concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews:

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:

3 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.

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.

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

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;

5 Who knew me from the beginning, (if they would testify) that after the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.

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.

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

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

7 To which [promise] our twelve tribes, assiduously serving [God] day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

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.

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

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

9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

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

10 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].

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.

11 And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled [them] to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted [them] even to foreign cities.

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.

12 Upon which as I went to Damascus, with authority and commission from the chief priests,

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

13 At mid-day, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, surpassing the brightness of the sun, shining around me, and them who journeyed with me.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the Gentiles, to whom now I send thee,

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

18 To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them who are sanctified by faith that is in me.

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.

19 Upon which O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

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

20 But showed first to them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

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.

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

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

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

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:

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

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.

24 And as he was thus speaking for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee insane.

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.

25 But he said, I am not insane, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

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

26 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.

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.

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, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

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

29 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.

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.

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

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

31 And when they had gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death, or of bonds.

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

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

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