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保羅在亞基帕王面前申辯(A)

26 亞基帕對保羅說:“准你為自己申辯。”於是保羅伸手辯護說: “亞基帕王啊,猶太人控告我的事,今天我可以在你面前辯護,實在是萬幸; 特別是你熟悉猶太人的一切規例和爭論,所以求你耐心聽我申訴: 我從幼年到現在,在本國、在耶路撒冷為人怎樣,猶太人都知道。 如果他們肯作證的話,他們是早就知道,我是按著我們祖宗最嚴格的教派,過著法利賽人的生活。 現在我站著受審,是為了對 神向我們祖先的應許存著盼望。 我們十二支派晝夜切切地事奉 神,都是盼望這應許實現。王啊,我被猶太人控告,正是為了這個盼望。  神使死人復活,你們為甚麼認為是不可信的呢? 從前,我也認為應該多方敵對拿撒勒人耶穌的名。 10 後來就在耶路撒冷這樣作了。我得到了眾祭司長授權,把許多聖徒關在監裡,並且他們被殺的時候,我也表示同意。 11 我在各會堂裡多次用刑強迫他們說褻瀆的話;我非常憤恨他們,甚至追到國外的城巿去迫害他們。

12 “那時候,我得到祭司長的授權和准許,去大馬士革。 13 王啊,就在中午的時候,我在路上看見一道光,比太陽更明亮,從天上四面照著我和同行的人。 14 我們都仆倒在地上,我聽見有聲音用希伯來話對我說:‘掃羅!掃羅!你為甚麼迫害我?你要踢刺是難的。’ 15 我說:‘主啊,你是誰?’主說:‘我就是你所迫害的耶穌。 16 你起來,站著,我向你顯現,是要指派你為我工作。你要為你所見過的事,和我將要向你顯明的事作見證。 17 我要救你脫離這人民和外族人,差遣你到他們那裡去, 18 開他們的眼睛,使他們從黑暗中歸向光明,從撒但的權下歸向 神,使他們的罪惡得到赦免,並且在那些因信我而成聖的人中同得基業。’

19 “亞基帕王啊,因此,我沒有違背這從天上來的異象, 20 先向大馬士革、耶路撒冷、猶太全地的人宣講,後向外族人宣講,叫他們悔改,歸向 神,行事與悔改的心相稱。 21 猶太人就是為了這緣故在殿裡捉住我,想要殺我。 22 然而,我得到 神的幫助,直到今日還是站得穩,向尊卑老幼作見證,我所講的都是眾先知和摩西所論的將來必成的事, 23 就是基督必須受難,並且從死人中首先復活,把光明的信息傳報給這人民和外族人。”

保羅說服亞基帕王

24 保羅申訴到這裡,非斯都大聲說:“保羅!你瘋了;你的學問太大,使你瘋了!” 25 保羅說:“非斯都大人,我沒有瘋,我說的都是真實的話,清醒的話。 26 因為王知道這些事,所以我對王坦白直說。我確信這些事沒有一件能瞞得過他,因為這不是在背地裡作的。 27 亞基帕王啊,你信先知嗎?我知道你是信的。” 28 亞基帕對保羅說:“你想用這樣短短的時間就可以說服我作基督徒嗎!” 29 保羅說:“無論時間短也好,時間長也好,我向 神所求的,不單是你,而且是今天所有的聽眾,都能像我一樣作基督徒,只是不要有這些鎖鍊。”

30 亞基帕王、總督和百尼基,還有在座的人都站起來, 31 退到一邊,彼此談論,說:“這個人並沒有犯過甚麼該死該綁的罪。” 32 亞基帕對非斯都說:“這個人若沒有向凱撒上訴,早就可以釋放了。”

26 (A)Now Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul, stretching out his hand, began to make his defense:

“Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I regard myself blessed, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; [a]especially because you are an expert in all (B)customs and [b]questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

“So then, all Jews know (C)my manner of life from my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a (D)Pharisee (E)according to the strictest (F)sect of our religion. And now I am standing here being tried (G)for the hope of (H)the promise made by God to our fathers; the promise (I)to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this (J)hope, O King, I am being (K)accused by Jews. Why is it considered unbelievable among all of you (L)if God does raise the dead?

“So then, (M)I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to (N)the name of Jesus the Nazarene. 10 And this is [c]just what I (O)did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the [d]saints in prisons, having (P)received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I (Q)cast my vote against them. 11 And (R)as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being (S)furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them (T)even to [e]foreign cities.

Paul Tells of His Conversion

12 [f]While so engaged (U)as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, [g]brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 14 And when we had (V)all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the [h](W)Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? [i]It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise up and (X)stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to (Y)appoint you a (Z)servant and (AA)a witness not only to the things which you have [j]seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 (AB)rescuing you (AC)from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to (AD)open their eyes so that they may turn from (AE)darkness to light and from the authority of (AF)Satan to God, that they may receive (AG)forgiveness of sins and an (AH)inheritance among those who have been sanctified by (AI)faith in Me.’

19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but kept declaring both (AJ)to those of Damascus first, and also (AK)at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even (AL)to the Gentiles, that they should (AM)repent and turn to God, practicing deeds (AN)appropriate to repentance. 21 For this reason some Jews (AO)seized me in the temple and were trying (AP)to put me to death. 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God to this day, I stand here (AQ)bearing witness both to small and great, stating nothing but what (AR)the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; 23 [k](AS)that the [l]Christ was [m]to suffer, and [n]that (AT)as first of the resurrection from the dead, He was going to proclaim (AU)light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

24 Now while [o]Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! [p]Great (AV)learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul *said, “I am not out of my mind, (AW)most excellent Festus, but I utter words [q]of sober truth. 26 For the king [r](AX)knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a [s]corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know you believe.” 28 But Agrippa replied to Paul, “[t]In such short time [u]are you persuading me to become a (AY)Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “I would pray to God, that whether [v]in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these (AZ)chains.”

30 (BA)And the king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, 31 and when they had gone aside, they began talking to one another, saying, “(BB)This man is not doing anything worthy of death or [w]imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been (BC)set free if he had not (BD)appealed to Caesar.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:3 Or because you are especially expert
  2. Acts 26:3 Or controversial issues
  3. Acts 26:10 Lit also
  4. Acts 26:10 Or holy ones
  5. Acts 26:11 Or outlying
  6. Acts 26:12 Lit In which things
  7. Acts 26:13 Lit above the brightness of
  8. Acts 26:14 Jewish Aramaic
  9. Acts 26:14 An idiom referring to an animal’s futile resistance to being prodded with goads
  10. Acts 26:16 Two early mss seen Me
  11. Acts 26:23 Lit whether
  12. Acts 26:23 Messiah
  13. Acts 26:23 Lit subject to suffering
  14. Acts 26:23 Lit whether
  15. Acts 26:24 Lit he
  16. Acts 26:24 Lit The many letters
  17. Acts 26:25 Lit of truth and rationality
  18. Acts 26:26 Or understands
  19. Acts 26:26 A hidden or secret place
  20. Acts 26:28 Or With a little
  21. Acts 26:28 Or you are persuading me to become a Christian
  22. Acts 26:29 Or with a little or with much
  23. Acts 26:31 Lit bonds

26 And Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defence:

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defence before thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews: [a]especially because thou art expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of life then from my youth up, which was from the beginning among mine own nation and at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; having knowledge of me from the first, if they be willing to testify, that after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers; unto which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. And concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O king! Why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead? I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And this I also did in Jerusalem: and I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them. 11 And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities. 12 [b]Whereupon as I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them that journeyed with me. 14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying unto me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against [c]the goad. 15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things [d]wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee; 17 delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I send thee, 18 to open their eyes, [e]that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me. 19 Wherefore, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 but declared both to them of Damascus first, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judaea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of [f]repentance. 21 For this cause the Jews seized me in the temple, and assayed to kill me. 22 Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand unto this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses did say should come; 23 [g]how that the Christ [h]must suffer, and [i]how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.

24 And as he thus made his defence, Festus saith with a loud voice, Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning [j]is turning thee mad. 25 But Paul saith, I am not mad, most excellent Festus; but speak forth words of truth and soberness. 26 For the king knoweth of these things, unto whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him; for this hath not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28 And Agrippa said unto Paul, [k]With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian. 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that [l]whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds.

30 And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: 31 and when they had withdrawn, they spake one to another, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. 32 And Agrippa said unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:3 Or, because thou art especially expert
  2. Acts 26:12 Or, On which errand
  3. Acts 26:14 Greek goads.
  4. Acts 26:16 Many ancient authorities read which thou hast seen.
  5. Acts 26:18 Or, to turn them
  6. Acts 26:20 Or, their repentance
  7. Acts 26:23 Or, if. Or, whether
  8. Acts 26:23 Or, is subject to suffering
  9. Acts 26:23 Or, if. Or, whether
  10. Acts 26:24 Greek turneth thee to madness.
  11. Acts 26:28 Or, In a little time thou etc.
  12. Acts 26:29 Or, both in little and in great, i.e., in all respects

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: “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) 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.

“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. 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) And now it is because of my hope(K) in what God has promised our ancestors(L) that I am on trial today. 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) Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?(P)

“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

  1. Acts 26:14 Or Hebrew