保羅在亞基帕王面前申辯

26 亞基帕對保羅說:「准你為自己辯護。」於是保羅伸手示意,然後為自己辯護說: 「亞基帕王啊,面對猶太人對我的種種控告,我今天很榮幸可以在你面前申辯, 尤其是你對猶太習俗和各種爭議都十分熟悉。因此,求你耐心聽我說。

「我從小在本族和耶路撒冷為人如何,猶太人都知道。 他們認識我很久了,如果他們肯作證的話,他們可以證明我從小就屬於猶太教中最嚴格的法利賽派。 現在我站在這裡受審,是因為我盼望上帝給我們祖先的應許。 我們十二支派日夜虔誠地事奉上帝,盼望這應許能夠實現。王啊!就是因為我有這樣的盼望,才被猶太人控告。 上帝叫死人復活,你們為什麼認為不可信呢? 我自己也曾經認為應該盡一切可能反對拿撒勒人耶穌。 10 我在耶路撒冷就是這樣做的。我得到祭司長的授權,把許多聖徒[a]關進監獄。他們被判死刑,我也表示贊同。 11 我多次在各會堂懲罰他們,逼他們說褻瀆的話,我對他們深惡痛絕,甚至到國外的城鎮去追捕、迫害他們。

保羅信主的經過

12 「那時,我帶著祭司長的授權和委託去大馬士革。 13 王啊!大約中午時分,我在路上看見一道比太陽還亮的光從天上照在我和同行的人周圍。 14 我們都倒在地上,我聽見有聲音用希伯來話對我說,『掃羅!掃羅!你為什麼迫害我?你很難用腳去踢刺。』 15 我說,『主啊,你是誰?』主說,『我就是你所迫害的耶穌。 16 你站起來。我向你顯現,是要派你作我的僕人和見證人,把你所看見的和以後我將啟示給你的事告訴世人。 17 我將把你從你的同胞和外族人手中救出來。我差遣你到他們那裡, 18 去開他們的眼睛,使他們棄暗投明,脫離魔鬼的權勢,歸向上帝,好叫他們的罪得到赦免,與所有因信我而聖潔的人同得基業。』

保羅放膽傳道

19 「亞基帕王啊!我沒有違背這從天上來的異象。 20 我先在大馬士革,然後到耶路撒冷、猶太全境和外族人當中勸人悔改歸向上帝,行事為人要與悔改的心相稱。 21 就因為這些事,猶太人在聖殿中抓住我,打算殺我。 22 然而,我靠著上帝的幫助,到今天還能站在這裡向所有尊卑老幼做見證。我講的不外乎眾先知和摩西說過要發生的事, 23 就是基督必須受害,並首先從死裡復活,將光明帶給猶太人和外族人。」

24 這時,非斯都打斷保羅的申辯,大聲說:「保羅,你瘋了!一定是你的學問太大,使你神經錯亂了!」

25 保羅說:「非斯都大人,我沒有瘋。我講的話真實、合理。 26 王瞭解這些事,所以我才敢在王面前直言。我相信這些事沒有一件瞞得過王,因為這些事並非暗地裡做的。 27 亞基帕王啊,你信先知嗎?我知道你信。」

28 亞基帕王對保羅說:「難道你想三言兩語就說服我成為基督徒嗎?」

29 保羅說:「不論話多話少,我求上帝不僅使你,也使今天在座的各位都能像我一樣,只是不要像我這樣帶著鎖鏈。」

30 亞基帕王、總督、百妮姬及其他在座的人都站起來, 31 走到一邊商量說:「這人沒有做什麼該判死刑或監禁的事。」 32 亞基帕王對非斯都說:「這人要是沒有向凱撒上訴,已經可以獲釋了。」

Footnotes

  1. 26·10 保羅在這裡指的是信耶穌的基督徒。

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

26 Agrippa said to Paul, “You’re free to speak for yourself.”

Paul acknowledged King Agrippa and then began his defense. “King Agrippa, I think I’m fortunate today to stand in front of you and defend myself against every charge that the Jews brought against me. I say this since you are especially familiar with every custom and controversy in Judaism. So I ask you to listen patiently to me.

“All the Jews know how I lived the earliest days of my youth with my own people and in Jerusalem. They’ve known me for a long time and can testify, if they’re willing, that I followed the strictest party of our religion. They know that I lived my life as a Pharisee.

“I’m on trial now because I expect God to keep the promise that he made to our ancestors. Our twelve tribes expect this promise to be kept as they worship with intense devotion day and night. Your Majesty, the Jews are making accusations against me because I expect God to keep his promise. Why do all of you refuse to believe that God can bring dead people back to life?

“I used to think that I had to do a lot of things to oppose the one named Yeshua of Nazareth. 10 That is what I did in Jerusalem. By the authority I received from the chief priests, I locked many Christians in prison. I voted to have them killed every time a vote was taken. 11 I even went to each synagogue, punished believers, and forced them to curse the name of Yeshua. In my furious rage against them, I hunted them down in cities outside Jerusalem.

12 “I was carrying out these activities when I went to the city of Damascus. I had the power and authority of the chief priests. 13 Your Majesty, at noon, while I was traveling, I saw a light that was brighter than the sun. The light came from the sky and shined around me and those who were with me. 14 All of us fell to the ground, and I heard a voice asking me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me? It’s hard for a mortal like you to resist God.’

15 “I asked, ‘Who are you, sir?’

“The Lord answered, ‘I am Yeshua, the one you’re persecuting. 16 Stand up! I have appeared to you for a reason. I’m appointing you to be a servant and witness of what you have seen and of what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from the Jewish people and from the non-Jewish people to whom I am sending you. 18 You will open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from Satan’s control to God’s. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and a share among God’s people who are made holy by believing in me.’

19 “At that point I did not disobey the vision I saw from heaven, King Agrippa. 20 Instead, I spread the message that I first told to the Jewish people in Damascus and Jerusalem and throughout the whole country of Judea. I spread the same message to non-Jewish people. Both groups were expected to change the way they thought and acted and to turn to God. I told them to do things that prove they had changed their lives. 21 For this reason the Jews took me prisoner in the temple courtyard and tried to murder me.

22 “God has been helping me to this day so that I can stand and testify to important and unimportant people. I tell them only what the prophets and Moses said would happen. 23 They said that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to come back to life and would spread light to Jewish and non-Jewish people.”

24 As Paul was defending himself in this way, Festus shouted, “Paul, you’re crazy! Too much education is driving you crazy!”

25 Paul replied, “I’m not crazy, Your Excellency Festus. What I’m saying is true and sane. 26 I can easily speak to a king who knows about these things. I’m sure that none of these things has escaped his attention. None of this was done secretly. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe them!”

28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think you can quickly persuade me to become a Christian?”

29 Paul replied, “I wish to God that you and everyone listening to me today would quickly and completely become as I am (except for being a prisoner).”

30 The king, the governor, Bernice, and the people who were sitting with them got up. 31 As they were leaving, they said to each other, “This man isn’t doing anything for which he deserves to die or be put in prison.”

32 Agrippa told Festus, “This man could have been set free if he hadn’t appealed his case to the emperor.”

26 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

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:

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.

My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, unto our fathers:

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.

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

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.