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
Common English Bible
23 The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great fanfare. They entered the auditorium with the military commanders and the city’s most prominent men. Festus then ordered that Paul be brought in. 24 Festus said, “King Agrippa and everyone present with us: You see this man! The entire Jewish community, both here and in Jerusalem, has appealed to me concerning him. They’ve been calling for his immediate death. 25 I’ve found that he has done nothing deserving death. When he appealed to His Majesty, I decided to send him to Rome. 26 I have nothing definite to write to our lord emperor. Therefore, I’ve brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this investigation, I might have something to write. 27 After all, it would be foolish to send a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”
Paul’s defense before Agrippa
26 Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.”
So Paul gestured with his hand and began his defense. 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself especially fortunate that I stand before you today as I offer my defense concerning all the accusations the Jews have brought against me. 3 This is because you understand well all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I ask you to listen to me patiently. 4 Every Jew knows the way of life I have followed since my youth because, from the beginning, I was among my people and in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time. If they wanted to, they could testify that I followed the way of life set out by the most exacting group of our religion. I am a Pharisee. 6 Today I am standing trial because of the hope in the promise God gave our ancestors. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes hope to receive as they earnestly worship night and day. The Jews are accusing me, King Agrippa, because of this hope! 8 Why is it inconceivable to you that God raises the dead?
9 “I really thought that I ought to oppose the name of Jesus the Nazarene in every way possible. 10 And that’s exactly what I did in Jerusalem. I locked up many of God’s holy people in prison under the authority of the chief priests. When they were condemned to death, I voted against them. 11 In one synagogue after another—indeed, in all the synagogues—I would often torture them, compelling them to slander God. My rage bordered on the hysterical as I pursued them, even to foreign cities.
12 “On one such journey, I was going to Damascus with the full authority of the chief priests. 13 While on the road at midday, King Agrippa, I saw a light from heaven shining around me and my traveling companions. That light was brighter than the sun. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice that said to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me? It’s hard for you to kick against a spear.’[a] 15 Then I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are harassing. 16 Get up! Stand on your feet! I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you as my servant and witness of what you have seen and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you 18 to open their eyes. Then they can turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, and receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are made holy by faith in me.’
19 “So, King Agrippa, I wasn’t disobedient to that heavenly vision. 20 Instead, I proclaimed first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to the whole region of Judea and to the Gentiles. My message was that they should change their hearts and lives and turn to God, and that they should demonstrate this change in their behavior. 21 Because of this, some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to murder me. 22 God has helped me up to this very day. Therefore, I stand here and bear witness to the lowly and the great. I’m saying nothing more than what the Prophets and Moses declared would happen: 23 that the Christ would suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to my people and to the Gentiles.”
Footnotes
- Acts 26:14 Or goads
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible