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Acts 26
New International Version
Acts 26
New International Version
26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”(A)
So Paul motioned with his hand(B) and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you(C) today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews,(D) 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs(E) and controversies.(F) Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child,(G) from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time(H) and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect(I) of our religion, living as a Pharisee.(J) 6 And now it is because of my hope(K) in what God has promised our ancestors(L) that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes(M) are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night.(N) King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me.(O) 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?(P)
9 “I too was convinced(Q) that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose(R) the name of Jesus of Nazareth.(S) 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people(T) in prison,(U) and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.(V) 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished,(W) and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice(X) saying to me in Aramaic,[a](Y) ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet.(Z) I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.(AA) 17 I will rescue you(AB) from your own people and from the Gentiles.(AC) I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes(AD) and turn them from darkness to light,(AE) and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins(AF) and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’(AG)
19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient(AH) to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus,(AI) then to those in Jerusalem(AJ) and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles,(AK) I preached that they should repent(AL) and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.(AM) 21 That is why some Jews seized me(AN) in the temple courts and tried to kill me.(AO) 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen(AP)— 23 that the Messiah would suffer(AQ) and, as the first to rise from the dead,(AR) would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”(AS)
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind,(AT) Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning(AU) is driving you insane.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent(AV) Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things,(AW) and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”(AX)
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”(AY)
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice(AZ) and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”(BA)
32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free(BB) if he had not appealed to Caesar.”(BC)
Footnotes
- Acts 26:14 Or Hebrew
Hechos 26
Reina Valera Contemporánea
Hechos 26
Reina Valera Contemporánea
Defensa de Pablo ante Agripa
26 Entonces Agripa le dijo a Pablo: «Puedes hablar en tu defensa.» Pablo hizo un ademán con la mano, e inició su defensa:
2 «Rey Agripa, con mucho gusto presentaré ante ti mi defensa de las acusaciones que me hacen los judíos, 3 especialmente porque tú conoces las costumbres y las cuestiones que se debaten entre los judíos. Yo te ruego que me escuches con paciencia.
Vida anterior de Pablo
4 »Todos los judíos saben cómo he vivido desde mi niñez y juventud, lo mismo en Jerusalén que entre mi pueblo. 5 Ellos saben también, y lo pueden atestiguar, que desde el principio he vivido según las normas de los fariseos, que es el grupo más riguroso de nuestra religión.(A) 6 ¡Y ahora me juzgan por mi esperanza en la promesa que Dios les hizo a nuestros padres! 7 Se trata de la promesa cuyo cumplimiento nuestras doce tribus esperan alcanzar; por eso día y noche sirven constantemente a Dios. ¡Y es por tener esta esperanza, rey Agripa, por lo que me acusan los judíos! 8 ¿Acaso a ustedes les resulta increíble que Dios resucite a los muertos?
Pablo el perseguidor
9 »Reconozco haber creído que era mi deber hacer cualquier cosa en contra del nombre de Jesús de Nazaret. 10 Y eso mismo hice en Jerusalén: con la autoridad que me dieron los principales sacerdotes, puse en la cárcel a muchos de esos santos, y hasta llegué a aprobar su muerte. 11 En las sinagogas, muchas veces los castigué y los forcé a blasfemar. Tan furioso estaba yo contra ellos, que los perseguí aun en las ciudades extranjeras.(B)
Pablo relata su conversión(C)
12 »Con amplios poderes en mi mano, y comisionado por los principales sacerdotes, iba yo una vez hacia Damasco; 13 y de pronto, rey Agripa, a eso del mediodía, una luz del cielo, más brillante que el resplandor del sol, nos rodeó en el camino a mí y a mis acompañantes. 14 Todos rodamos por tierra. Y entonces oí una voz que me hablaba en arameo, y me decía: “Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues? Dura cosa te es dar de coces contra el aguijón.” 15 Yo pregunté: “¿Quién eres, Señor?” Y el Señor me dijo: “Yo soy Jesús, a quien tú persigues. 16 Ponte de pie, que me he aparecido a ti porque tú vas a ser ministro y testigo de lo que has visto, y de otras que aún te voy a mostrar. 17 Yo te libraré de tu pueblo y de los no judíos, y quiero que vayas a ellos 18 para que les abras los ojos y se conviertan de las tinieblas a la luz, y del poder de Satanás al poder de Dios; para que por la fe en mí, reciban el perdón de sus pecados y la herencia de los que han sido santificados.”
Pablo obedece a la visión
19 »Por eso, rey Agripa, no desobedecí esa visión celestial, 20 sino que comenzando por los que viven en Damasco(D) y en Jerusalén,(E) y siguiendo por los que viven en Judea, sin pasar por alto a los no judíos, les anuncié que debían arrepentirse y volverse a Dios, y demostrar con sus hechos que realmente se habían arrepentido. 21 ¡Y por esto los judíos me aprehendieron en el templo y trataron de matarme! 22 Pero Dios vino en mi ayuda. Por eso hasta hoy no dejo de dar mi testimonio a grandes y pequeños. Y no digo nada que no hayan dicho ya los profetas y Moisés. 23 Por ejemplo, que el Cristo tenía que padecer, y que sería el primero en resucitar de los muertos, para anunciar la luz al pueblo de Israel y a las naciones.»(F)
Pablo insta a Agripa a que crea
24 Esto decía Pablo en su defensa, cuando Festo gritó a voz en cuello: «¡Estás loco, Pablo! ¡Las muchas letras te han vuelto loco!» 25 Pero Pablo respondió: «No estoy loco, excelentísimo Festo. Lo que estoy diciendo es la verdad, y tiene sentido. 26 El rey también lo sabe, y por eso hablo con él de esto sin ningún temor. Estoy seguro que él no ignora nada de esto, porque no lo hemos discutido en un rincón. 27 Tú, rey Agripa, ¿crees en lo que dicen los profetas? ¡Yo sé que sí lo crees!» 28 Agripa le respondió: «¿Con tan poco pretendes hacerme cristiano?» 29 Y Pablo dijo: «Pues Dios quiera que, con poco o con mucho, no sólo tú sino también todos los que hoy me escuchan lleguen a ser como yo, ¡pero sin estas cadenas!»
30 El rey se puso de pie, lo mismo que el gobernador y Berenice y los que estaban sentados con ellos, 31 y todos ellos se retiraron aparte y comentaron entre ellos: «Este hombre no ha hecho nada que merezca la prisión ni la pena de muerte.» 32 Por su parte, Agripa le dijo a Festo: «Se le podría poner en libertad, si no hubiera apelado al emperador.»
Acts 26
New King James Version
Acts 26
New King James Version
Paul’s Early Life
26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”
So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: 2 “I think myself (A)happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer (B)for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am (C)accused by the Jews, 3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
4 “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. 5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to (D)the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 (E)And now I stand and am judged for the hope of (F)the promise made by God to our fathers. 7 To this promise (G)our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God (H)night and day, (I)hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?
9 (J)“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things [a]contrary to the name of (K)Jesus of Nazareth. 10 (L)This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority (M)from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 (N)And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Paul Recounts His Conversion(O)
12 (P)“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, (Q)to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will [b]deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, (R)to whom I [c]now send you, 18 (S)to open their eyes, in order (T)to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, (U)that they may receive forgiveness of sins and (V)an inheritance among those who are (W)sanctified[d] by faith in Me.’
Paul’s Post-Conversion Life
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but (X)declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do (Y)works befitting repentance. 21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those (Z)which the prophets and (AA)Moses said would come— 23 (AB)that the Christ would suffer, (AC)that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and (AD)would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
Agrippa Parries Paul’s Challenge
24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, (AE)you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”
25 But he said, “I am not [e]mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. 26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, (AF)knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
29 And Paul said, (AG)“I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
30 When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; 31 and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, (AH)“This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”
32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set (AI)free (AJ)if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Footnotes
- Acts 26:9 against
- Acts 26:17 rescue
- Acts 26:17 NU, M omit now
- Acts 26:18 set apart
- Acts 26:25 out of my mind
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Reina Valera Contemporánea (RVC)
Copyright © 2009, 2011 by Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.