Acts 26

1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching forth his hand, thus made his defence,

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

2 "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:

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 as thou art acquainted with all the customs and questions which are among the Jews; wherefore I intreat 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 then from my youth, as it has been from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews are acquainted with,

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 knowing me before, (if they would testify it, ) that according to 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 arraigned for the hope of the promise which was 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, worshipping continually night and day, hope to attain: concerning which hope, O 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 What! is it judged incredible by you, that God should raise the dead?

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

9 I indeed once thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarene:

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

10 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.

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 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.

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

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

13 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.

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 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.

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 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:

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 I now 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 unto God; that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith 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 Wherefore, 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 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.

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 things the Jews seized me in the temple, and attempted to kill me.

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

22 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,

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

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

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, 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.

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 O king Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?

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

28 I know that thou believest them. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou almost 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 said this, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and those 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 were retired, they spake to each other, saying, this man hath done nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

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

32 And Agrippa said 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.