Acts
26
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8
9 10 11
12 13 14
15 16 17
18 19 20
21 22 23
24 25 26
27 28
1 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, because I shall answer for myself this day
before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of 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. 4 My
manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at
Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 5 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 and am judged for the hope of the promise
made of God unto our fathers: 7 Unto which promise our twelve
tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hopes
sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. 8 Why should it be
thought a thing incredible with 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. 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. 11 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 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and
commission from the chief priests, 13 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 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 he said, I
am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 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, unto 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 inheritance among them which are sanctified
by faith that is in me. 19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not
disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of
Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, 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 caught me in the temple, and
went about to kill me. 22 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
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 thus spake for himself, Festus said with a
loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 25 But
he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and
soberness. 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. 27 King Agrippa, believest
thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28 Then Agrippa said
unto 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. 30 And
when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and
they that sat with them: 31 And when they were gone aside, they talked
between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. 32 Then
said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not
appealed unto Caesar.
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