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
Christian Standard Bible
Paul before Agrippa
23 So the next day, Agrippa and Bernice(A) came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the military commanders and prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the command, Paul was brought in. 24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all men present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community has appealed to me concerning him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he should not live any longer.(B) 25 I found that he had not done anything deserving of death, but when he himself appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.(C) 26 I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore, I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination is over, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.”
Paul’s Defense before Agrippa
26 Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially since you are very knowledgeable about all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem.(D) 5 They have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.(E) 6 And now I stand on trial because of the hope(F) in what God promised(G) to our ancestors, 7 the promise our twelve tribes hope to reach as they earnestly serve him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope.(H) 8 Why do any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? 9 In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.(I) 10 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them.(J) 11 In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme.(K) Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.
Paul’s Account of His Conversion and Commission
12 “I was traveling to Damascus under(L) these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. 13 King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Aramaic,[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’(M)
15 “I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.(N) 17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them(O) 18 to open their eyes(P) so that they may turn[b] from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’(Q)
19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20 Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance.(R) 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and were trying to kill me. 22 To this very day, I have had help from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing other than what the prophets and Moses said would take place(S)— 23 that the Messiah would suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”(T)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.