Paul's Defense Before Agrippa

26 So ^(A)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 ^(B)against all the accusations of the Jews, ³ especially because you are familiar with all the ^(C)customs and ^(D)controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

²⁴ And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, ^(A)you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” ²⁵ But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, ^(B)most excellent Festus, but I am speaking ^(C)true and ^(D)rational words. ²⁶ For ^(E)the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” ²⁸ And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be ^(F)a Christian?”^{[a] 29} And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day ^(G)might become such as I am—except for ^(H)these chains.”

³⁰ Then the king rose, and ^(I)the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. ³¹ And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, ^(J)“This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, ^(K)“This man could have been set ^(L)free if he had not appealed ^(M)to Caesar.”