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:

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 hope's 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 - .