Acts 25:23-26:8

New American Standard Bible

Paul before Agrippa

²³ So, on the next day when ^(A)Agrippa and ^(B)Bernice came amid great pomp and entered the auditorium, ^[a]accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought before them. ²⁴ And Festus *said, “King Agrippa, and all you gentlemen present with us, you see this man about whom ^(C)all the people of the Jews appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that ^(D)he ought not to live any longer. ²⁵ But I found that he had committed ^(E)nothing deserving death; and since he himself ^(F)appealed to ^[b]the Emperor, I decided to send him. ^26 [c]Yet, I have nothing definite about him to write to my lord. Therefore, I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write. ²⁷ For it seems absurd to me in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him as well.”

Paul’s Defense before Agrippa

26 ^(G)Now Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul extended his hand and proceeded to make his defense:

² “Regarding all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, ^3 [d]especially because you are an expert in all ^(H)customs and ^[e]questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

⁴ “So then, all Jews know ^(I)my way of life since my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and in Jerusalem, ⁵ since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a ^(J)Pharisee ^(K)according to the strictest ^(L)sect of our religion. ⁶ And now I am standing trial ^(M)for the hope of ^(N)the promise made by God to our fathers; ⁷ the promise ^(O)to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. For this ^(P)hope, O king, I am being ^(Q)accused by Jews. ⁸ Why is it considered incredible among you people ^(R)if God raises the dead?