Paul Makes His Defense Before King Agrippa

26 So Agrippa said to Paul, “It is permitted for you to speak for yourself.” Then Paul extended his^[a] hand and^[b] began to defend himself:^[c]

² “Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that before you I am about to defend myself today, ³ because^[d] you are especially acquainted with both all the customs and controversial questions with respect to the Jews. Therefore I beg you^[e] to listen to me with patience.

⁴ “Now all the Jews know my manner of life from my youth, that had taken place from the beginning among my own people^[f] and in Jerusalem, ⁵ having known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that in accordance with the strictest party of our religion I lived as a Pharisee. ⁶ And now I stand here on trial on the basis of hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, ⁷ to which our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve him^[g] night and day. Concerning this hope I am being accused by the Jews, O king! ⁸ Why is it thought incredible by you people^[h] that God raises the dead? ⁹ Indeed, I myself thought it was necessary to do many things opposed to the name of Jesus the Nazarene, ¹⁰ which I also did in Jerusalem, and not only did I lock up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when^[i] they were being executed, I cast my vote^[j] against them.^{[k] 11} And throughout all the synagogues I punished them often and^[l] tried to force^[m] them^[n] to blaspheme, and because I^[o] was enraged at them beyond measure, I was pursuing them^[p] even as far as to foreign cities. ¹² In this activity^[q] I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and full power of the chief priests. ¹³ In the middle of the day along the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven, more than the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who were traveling with me. ¹⁴ And when^[r] we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Aramaic 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 the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But get up and stand on your feet, because for this reason I have appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and witness both to the things in which you saw me and to the things in which I will appear to you, ¹⁷ rescuing you from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

¹⁹ “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem and all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, I proclaimed that they should repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance. ²¹ On account of these things the Jews seized me in^[s] the temple courts^[t] and^[u] were attempting to kill me.^{[v] 22} Therefore I have experienced help from God until this day, and^[w] I stand here testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what both the prophets and Moses have said were going to happen, ²³ that the Christ^[x] was to suffer and that as the first of the resurrection from the dead, he was going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴ And as^[y] he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Your^[z] great learning is driving^[aa] you insane!”^{[ab] 25} But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking words of truth and rationality. ²⁶ For the king knows about these things, to whom also I am speaking freely, for I am not convinced that these things in any way have escaped^[ac] his notice, because this was^[ad] not done^[ae] in a corner. ²⁷ Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.” ²⁸ But Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?”^{[af] 29} And Paul replied, “I pray to God, whether in a short time or in a long time, not only you but also all those who are listening to me today may become such people as I also am, except for these bonds!”

³⁰ Both the king and the governor got up, and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. ³¹ And as they^[ag] were going out, they were talking to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment.” ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”