The Acts
26:1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.
Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
26:2 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:
26:3 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.
26:4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own
nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the
most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
26:6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God
unto our fathers:
26:7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and
night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused
of the Jews.
26:8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should
raise the dead?
26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to
the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
26:10 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.
26:11 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.
26:12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the
chief priests,
26:13 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.
26:14 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.
26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou
persecutest.
26:16 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;
26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I
send thee,
26:18 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.
26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly
vision:
26:20 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.
26:21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to
kill me.
26:22 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:
26:23 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.
26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul,
thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words
of truth and soberness.
26:26 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.
26:27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a
Christian.
26:29 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.
26:30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and
Bernice, and they that sat with them:
26:31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying,
This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
26:32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty,
if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
