< Acts 26 >
1 And Agrippa said unto Paul, 'It is permitted to thee to speak for thyself;' then Paul having stretched forth the hand, was making a defence:
THEN Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching out his hand, began his defence:
2 'Concerning all things of which I am accused by Jews, king Agrippa, I have thought myself happy, being about to make a defence before thee to-day,
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 knowing thee to be acquainted with all things — both customs and questions — among Jews; wherefore, I beseech thee, patiently to hear me.
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 'The manner of my life then, indeed, from youth — which from the beginning was among my nation, in Jerusalem — know do 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 knowing me before from the first, (if they may be willing to testify, ) that after the most exact sect of our worship, 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 for the hope of the promise made to the fathers by God, I have stood judged,
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 our twelve tribes, intently night and day serving, do hope to come, concerning which hope I am accused, king Agrippa, 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 is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?
What! is it judged a thing incredible by you, that God should raise the dead?
9 'I, indeed, therefore, thought with myself, that against the name of Jesus of Nazareth it behoved [me] many things to do,
I indeed then thought in myself, that I ought to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarean.
10 which also I did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I in prison did shut up, from the chief priests having received the authority; they also being put to death, I gave my vote 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 in every synagogue, often punishing them, I was constraining [them] to speak evil, being also exceedingly mad against them, I was also persecuting [them] even unto strange 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 'In which things, also, going on 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, I saw in the way, O king, out of heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me a light — and those going on 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 we all having fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute? hard for thee against pricks to kick!
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 dost persecute;
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 for this I appeared to thee, to appoint thee an officer and a witness both of the things thou didst see, 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 the nations, 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, to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the authority of the Adversary unto God, for their receiving forgiveness of sins, and a lot among those having been sanctified, by faith that [is] toward 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 'Whereupon, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision:
20 but to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem, to all the region also of Judea, and to the nations, I was preaching to reform, and to turn back unto God, doing works worthy of reformation;
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 because of these things the Jews — having caught me in the temple — were endeavouring to kill [me].
Because of these things, the Jews seizing me in the temple, attempted to kill me on the spot.
22 'Having obtained, therefore, help from God, till this day, I have stood witnessing both to small and to great, saying nothing besides the things that both the prophets and Moses spake of as about to 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 the Christ is to suffer, whether first by a rising from the dead, he is about to proclaim light to the people and to the nations.'
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, he thus making a defence, Festus with a loud voice said, 'Thou art mad, Paul; much learning doth turn thee mad;'
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 and he saith, 'I am not mad, most noble Festus, but of truth and soberness the sayings I speak forth;
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but utter words of truth and sobriety.
26 for the king doth know concerning these things, before whom also I speak boldly, for none of these things, I am persuaded, are hidden from him; for this thing hath not been 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 thou dost believe, king Agrippa, the prophets? I have known that thou dost believe!'
King Agrippa! believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 And Agrippa said unto Paul, 'In a little thou dost persuade me to become a Christian!'
Then Agrippa said to Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29 and Paul said, 'I would have wished to God, both in a little, and in much, not only thee, but also all those hearing me to-day, to become such as I also 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, he having spoken these things, the king rose up, and the governor, Bernice also, and those sitting with them,
So when he had thus spoken, the king arose, and the governor, and Bernice, and they who sat with him,
31 and having withdrawn, they were speaking unto one another, saying — 'This man doth 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 released if he had not appealed to Caesar.'
And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been discharged, if he had not appealed to Caesar.