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Acts 25:23-26
English Standard Version
Acts 25:23-26
English Standard Version
23 So on the next day (A)Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 And Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom (B)the whole Jewish people petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, (C)shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25 But I found that (D)he had done nothing deserving death. And (E)as he himself appealed to (F)the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”
Paul's Defense Before Agrippa
26 So (G)Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:
2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today (H)against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the (I)customs and (J)controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 (K)“My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among (L)my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that (M)according to the strictest (N)party of our (O)religion I have lived as (P)a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in (Q)the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 (R)to which (S)our twelve tribes hope to (T)attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope (U)I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought (V)incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
9 (W)“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of (X)Jesus of Nazareth. 10 (Y)And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority (Z)from the chief priests, but (AA)when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And (AB)I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them (AC)blaspheme, and (AD)in raging fury against them I (AE)persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Paul Tells of His Conversion
12 “In this connection (AF)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, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me (AG)in the Hebrew language,[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? 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 and (AH)stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, (AI)to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 (AJ)delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—(AK)to whom I (AL)am sending you 18 (AM)to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from (AN)the power of Satan to God, that they may receive (AO)forgiveness of sins and (AP)a place among those who are sanctified (AQ)by faith in me.’
19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to (AR)the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first (AS)to those in Damascus, (AT)then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also (AU)to the Gentiles, that they should (AV)repent and (AW)turn to God, performing deeds (AX)in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason (AY)the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 (AZ)To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so (BA)I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what (BB)the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 (BC)that the Christ (BD)must suffer and that, (BE)by being the first (BF)to rise from the dead, (BG)he would proclaim (BH)light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
Footnotes
- Acts 26:14 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)
Acts 25:23-26
New Living Translation
Acts 25:23-26
New Living Translation
Paul Speaks to Agrippa
23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. 24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem. 25 But in my opinion he has done nothing deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.
26 “But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write. 27 For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!”
26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.”
So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: 2 “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, 3 for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!
4 “As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion. 6 Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God’s promise made to our ancestors. 7 In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel zealously worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope! 8 Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?
9 “I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene.[a] 10 Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers[b] there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. 11 Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus.[c] I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.
12 “One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[d] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.[e]’
15 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. 17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’
19 “And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. 20 I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. 21 Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me. 22 But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike.”
Acts 25:23-26
New International Version
Acts 25:23-26
New International Version
Paul Before Agrippa(A)
23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice(B) came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. 24 Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community(C) has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.(D) 25 I found he had done nothing deserving of death,(E) but because he made his appeal to the Emperor(F) I decided to send him to Rome. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. 27 For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”
26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”(G)
So Paul motioned with his hand(H) and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you(I) today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews,(J) 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs(K) and controversies.(L) 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,(M) from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time(N) and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect(O) of our religion, living as a Pharisee.(P) 6 And now it is because of my hope(Q) in what God has promised our ancestors(R) that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes(S) are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night.(T) King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me.(U) 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?(V)
9 “I too was convinced(W) that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose(X) the name of Jesus of Nazareth.(Y) 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(Z) in prison,(AA) and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.(AB) 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished,(AC) 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(AD) saying to me in Aramaic,[a](AE) ‘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.(AF) 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.(AG) 17 I will rescue you(AH) from your own people and from the Gentiles.(AI) I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes(AJ) and turn them from darkness to light,(AK) and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins(AL) and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’(AM)
19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient(AN) to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus,(AO) then to those in Jerusalem(AP) and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles,(AQ) I preached that they should repent(AR) and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.(AS) 21 That is why some Jews seized me(AT) in the temple courts and tried to kill me.(AU) 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(AV)— 23 that the Messiah would suffer(AW) and, as the first to rise from the dead,(AX) would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”(AY)
Footnotes
- Acts 26:14 Or Hebrew
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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.