Acts 26
Wycliffe Bible
26 And Agrippa said to Paul, It is suffered to thee, to speak for thyself. Then Paul held forth the hand, and began to yield reason.
2 Of all things, in which I am accused of the Jews, thou king Agrippa, I guess me blessed at thee, when I shall defend me this day;
3 most for thou knowest all things that be among Jews, customs and questions. For which thing, I beseech, hear me patiently.
4 For all Jews that before knew me from the beginning, know my life from youth; [And soothly all Jews before-witting me from the beginning, have known my life from youth;]
5 that from the beginning was in my folk in Jerusalem, if they will bear witnessing, that by the most certain sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. [that from the beginning was in my folk in Jerusalem, if they will bear witness, for after the most certain sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.]
6 And now for the hope of repromission, that is made to our fathers of God, I stand subject in doom;
7 in which hope our twelve lineages serving night and day hope to come; of which hope, sir king [of which hope, thou king], I am accused of the Jews.
8 What unbelieveful thing is deemed at you [What unbelieveful thing is deemed of you], if God raiseth dead men?
9 And soothly I guessed, that I ought to do many contrary things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Which thing also I did in Jerusalem, and I enclosed many of the saints in prison, when I had taken power of the princes of priests. And when they were slain, I brought the sentence. [Which thing and I did in Jerusalem, and I enclosed many of saints in prisons, power taken of the princes of priests. And when they were slain, I gave the sentence.]
11 And by all synagogues oft I punished them, and constrained to blaspheme; and more I waxed mad against them, and pursued [till] into alien cities [and more I waxing mad against them, pursued to alien cities].
12 In which, [the] while I went to Damascus, with power and suffering of the princes of priests,
13 at midday, in the way I saw, sir king, that from heaven a light shined about me, passing the shining of the sun, and about them that were together with me.[a]
14 And when we all had fallen down into the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, what pursuest thou me? it is hard to thee, to kick against the prick [it is hard for thee, for to kick against the prick].
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou pursuest.
16 But rise up, and stand on thy feet. For why to this thing I appeared to thee, that I ordain thee minister and witness of those things that thou hast seen, and of those things in which I shall show to thee [and of those things in which I shall appear to thee;].
17 And I shall deliver thee from peoples and folks, to which now I send thee, [delivering thee from peoples and folks, into which now I send thee,]
18 to open the eyes of them, that they be converted from darkness to light [to open the eyes of them, that they be turned from darknesses to light], and from power of Satan to God, that they take remission of sins, and part among saints [and sort, or part, among saints], by faith that is in me.
19 Wherefore, sir king Agrippa [Wherefore, thou king Agrippa], I was not unbelieveful to the heavenly vision;
20 but I told [I showed, or told,] to them that be at Damascus first, and at Jerusalem, and by all the country of Judaea, and to heathen men, that they should do penance, and be converted to God, and do worthy works of penance.
21 For this cause Jews took me, when I was in the temple, to slay me [and would slay me].
22 But I was helped by the help of God [till] into this day, and stand, witnessing to less and to more [and stand, witnessing to less and more]. And I say nothing else [Nothing saying over] than which things the prophets and Moses spake that shall come,
23 if Christ is to suffer, if he is the first of the again-rising of dead men[b], that shall show light to the people and to heathen men.
24 When he spake these things, and yielded reason, Festus said with great voice, Paul, thou maddest [Paul, thou maddest, or waxest mad]; many letters turn thee to madness.
25 And Paul said, I mad not, thou best Festus, but I speak out the words of truth and of soberness [but I speak out the words of truth and soberness].
26 For also the king, to whom I speak steadfastly, knoweth of these things; for I deem, that nothing of these is hid from him; for neither in a corner was aught of these things done.
27 Believest thou, king Agrippa, to prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 And Agrippa said to Paul, In little thing thou counselest me to be made a christian man. [Soothly Agrippa said to Paul, A little thou counselest me for to be made a christian man.]
29 And Paul said, I desire with God, both in little and in great, not only thee, but [and] all these that hear to day, to be made such as I am, except these bonds.
30 And the king rose up, and the president, and Bernice, and they that sat nigh to them.
31 And when they went away, they spake together, and said, That this man hath not done any thing worthy death, neither bonds.[c]
32 And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might be delivered, if he had not appealed to the emperor. [Forsooth Agrippa said to Festus, This man might be dismissed, or delivered, if he had not appealed to Caesar.]
Footnotes
- Acts 26:13 in the midday, in the way I saw, thou king, from heaven light shined about me, over the shining of the sun, and them that went together with me.
- Acts 26:23 if Christ is passible, or able to suffer, if the first of the again-rising of dead
- Acts 26:31 Which when they went away, spake together, saying, That this man hath not done any thing worthy death, or bonds.
Acts 26
New Matthew Bible
King Agrippa hears Paul, who describes his calling from the beginning.
26 Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand and answered for himself:
2 I think myself fortunate, King Agrippa, because I may answer this day before you to all the things I am accused of by the Jews, 3 especially because you are expert in all the customs and questions that are among the Jews. Therefore I beseech you to hear me patiently.
4 My life from my childhood, which was at first among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews 5 who knew me from the beginning know, if they would testify it. For in accordance with the most strict sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 to which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God day and night, hope to attain. For which hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible to you, that God should raise the dead up again?
9 I also truly thought in myself that I ought to do many things to utterly oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth – 10 which things I also did in Jerusalem, where I shut up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the high priests. And when they were put to death, I joined in giving the sentence. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme, and was even more mad upon them, and persecuted them even to distant cities.
12 In going about these things, as I was going to Damascus with leave and authority from the high priests, 13 at midday, O King, I saw in the road a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round about me and those who were journeying with me. 14 When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the pricks. 15 And I said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you persecute. 16 But rise and stand up on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose: to make you a minister and a witness both of those things you have seen, and of those things in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, and may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
19 And so, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but preached first to those of Damascus, and then at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do the right works of repentance. 21 Because of this, the Jews caught me in the temple and went about to kill me. 22 Nevertheless, I obtained help from God, and continue to this day witnessing both to small and to great, speaking of no other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say would come: 23 that Christ would suffer, and that he would be the first to rise from death, and would show light to the people and to the Gentiles.
24 As he thus answered for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning has made you mad.
25 And Paul said, I am not mad, most dear Festus, but speak the words of truth and soberness. 26 The king knows of these things, before whom I speak freely. I do not think any of these things are hidden from him. For this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know well that you believe.
28 Agrippa said to Paul, You bring me in mind somewhat to become a Christian.
29 And Paul said, I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, were not only somewhat, but altogether such as I am, except for these bonds.
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up with the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them. 31 And when they had gone apart, they talked between themselves, saying, This man does nothing worthy of death, nor of bonds. 32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been released, if he had not appealed to Caesar.
Acts 26
1599 Geneva Bible
26 2 Paul in the presence of Agrippa, 4 declareth his life from his childhood, 16 and his calling, 21 with such efficacy of words 28 that almost he persuaded him to Christianity. 30 But he and his company depart doing nothing in Paul’s matter.
1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. So Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself.
2 [a]I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answer this day before thee of all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
3 Chiefly, because thou hast knowledge of all customs, and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 [b]As touching my life from my childhood, and what it was from the beginning among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews,
5 Which [c]knew me heretofore, even from my [d]Elders (if they would testify) that after the [e]most straight sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.
6 [f]And now I stand and am accused for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers.
7 Whereunto our twelve tribes instantly serving God day and night, hope to come: for the which hope’s sake, O King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
8 [g]Why should it be thought a thing incredible unto you, that God should raise again the dead?
9 I also verily thought in myself, that I ought to do many contrary things against the Name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 (A)Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: for many of the Saints I shut up in prison, having received authority of the High Priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my [h]sentence.
11 And I punished them throughout all the Synagogues, and [i]compelled them to blaspheme and being more mad against them, I persecuted them, even unto strange cities.
12 At which time, even as I went to (B)Damascus with authority, and commission from the high Priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven passing the brightness of the sun, shine round about me, and them which went with me.
14 So 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 pricks.
15 Then I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise and stand up on thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose to appoint thee a minister and a witness, both of the things which thou hast seen, and of the things in the which I will appear unto thee,
17 Delivering thee from this people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 [j]To open their eyes, that they may turn 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 in me.
19 [k]Wherefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision,
20 (C)But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy amendment of life.
21 For this cause the Jews caught me in the (D)Temple, and went about to kill me.
22 [l]Nevertheless, I obtained help of God, and continue unto this day, witnessing both to [m]small and to great, saying none other things, than those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come,
23 To wit, that Christ should [n]suffer, and that he should be the [o]first that should rise from the dead, and should show [p]light unto this people, and to the Gentiles.
24 [q]And as he thus answered 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, O noble Festus, but I speak the words of truth, and soberness.
26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak boldly: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him: for this thing was [not] done in a [r]corner.
27 [s]O King Agrippa, believest thou the Prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to become a Christian.
29 Then Paul said, [t]I would to God that [not] only thou, but also all that hear me today, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
30 [u]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 apart, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death, nor of bonds.
32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been loosed, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
Footnotes
- Acts 26:2 To have a skillful judge, is a great and singular gift of God.
- Acts 26:4 Paul divideth the history of his life into two times: for the first [he] calleth his adversaries witnesses: for the latter, the fathers and prophets.
- Acts 26:5 What I was, and where, and how I lived.
- Acts 26:5 That my parents were Pharisees.
- Acts 26:5 The sect of the Pharisees was the most exquisite amongst all the sects of the Jews, for it was better than all the rest.
- Acts 26:6 There are three chief and principal witnesses of true doctrine, God, the true Fathers, and the consent of the Church.
- Acts 26:8 He proveth the resurrection of the dead, first by the power of God, then by the resurrection of Christ: whereof he is a sufficient witness.
- Acts 26:10 I consented to, and allowed of their doing: for he was not a judge.
- Acts 26:11 By extreme punishment.
- Acts 26:18 The end of the Gospel is to save them which are brought to the knowledge of Christ, and are justified and sanctified in him being laid hold on by faith.
- Acts 26:19 Paul allegeth God to be author of the office of his Apostleship, and his grace as a witness.
- Acts 26:22 Christ is the end of the Law and the Prophets.
- Acts 26:22 To everyone.
- Acts 26:23 That Christ should not be such a king as the Jews dreamed of, but one appointed to bear our miseries, and the punishment of our sins.
- Acts 26:23 The first of them which are raised from the dead.
- Acts 26:23 Life, yea, and that a most blessed life which shall be endless: and this is set against darkness, which almost in all tongues signifieth sometimes death, and sometimes misery and calamity.
- Acts 26:24 The wisdom of God is madness to fools, yet notwithstanding we must boldly avouch the truth.
- Acts 26:26 Secretly, and privately.
- Acts 26:27 Paul as it were forgetting himself that he stood a prisoner to defend his cause, he forgetteth not the office of his Apostleship.
- Acts 26:29 I would to God that not only almost, but thoroughly and altogether both thou and all that hear me this day, might be made as I am, my bonds only except.
- Acts 26:30 Paul is solemnly quit, and yet not dismissed.
Acts 26
Authorized (King James) Version
26 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: 2 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: 3 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.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 5 which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: 7 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. 8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? 9 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 Judæa, 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 Cæsar.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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