Acts 25:23-26:8

New King James Version

²³ So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great ^[a]pomp, and had entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command ^(A)Paul was brought in. ²⁴ And Festus said: “King Agrippa and all the men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom ^(B)the whole assembly of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying out that he was ^(C)not fit to live any longer. ²⁵ But when I found that ^(D)he had committed nothing deserving of death, ^(E)and that he himself had appealed to Augustus, I decided to send him. ²⁶ I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him out before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination has taken place I may have something to write. ²⁷ For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”

Paul’s Early Life

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”

So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: ² “I think myself ^(F)happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer ^(G)for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am ^(H)accused by the Jews, ³ especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

⁴ “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. ⁵ They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to ^(I)the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. ^6 (J)And now I stand and am judged for the hope of ^(K)the promise made by God to our fathers. ⁷ To this promise ^(L)our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God ^(M)night and day, ^(N)hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. ⁸ Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?