Acts 26

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1. 1Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak on your own behalf." So Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
2. 2King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to be making my defense before you today regarding all the charges brought against me by the Jews,
3. 3especially since you are thoroughly familiar with all the customs and disputes among the Jews. So I ask you to listen to me patiently.
4. 4All the Jews know how I have lived from my youth, from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem.
5. 5They have known me for a long time and could testify, if they were willing, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.
6. 6And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers.
7. 7This is the promise that our twelve tribes hope to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is for this hope, King Agrippa, that I am accused by the Jews.
8. 8Why do any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9. 9I myself was once convinced that I ought to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10. 10That is exactly what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests, I locked many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
11. 11I punished them often in every synagogue and tried to force them to blaspheme. In my extreme rage against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
12. 12While on one such mission, I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
13. 13At midday, O king, I saw on the road a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining all around me and those who journeyed with me.
14. 14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
15. 15I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said, 'I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.
16. 16Now get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose — to appoint you as a servant and witness both of the things you have seen and of the things I will reveal to you.
17. 17I will deliver you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am now sending you,
18. 18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
19. 19Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
20. 20Instead, I declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem, then throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
21. 21This is why the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
22. 22But having obtained help from God, I stand to this day, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen —
23. 23that the Christ would suffer, that he would be the first to rise from the dead, and that he would proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
24. 24While Paul was making this defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you insane!"
25. 25But Paul replied, "I am not insane, most noble Festus. What I am saying is true and reasonable.
26. 26For the king knows about these things, before whom I also speak freely. I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him, for this was not done in a corner.
27. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do."
28. 28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian."
29. 29Paul said, "I would pray to God that whether in a short time or a long time, not only you but all who hear me today would become such as I am — except for these chains."
30. 30Then the king rose up, along with the governor, Bernice, and those who sat with them.
31. 31After they withdrew, they spoke to one another, saying, "This man is doing nothing worthy of death or imprisonment."
32. 32And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."