Acts 26:19-32

Good News Translation

Paul Tells of His Work

¹⁹ “And so, King Agrippa, I did not disobey the vision I had from heaven. ^20 (A)First in Damascus and in Jerusalem and then in the whole country of Israel and among the Gentiles, I preached that they must repent of their sins and turn to God and do the things that would show they had repented. ²¹ It was for this reason that these Jews seized me while I was in the Temple, and they tried to kill me. ²² But to this very day I have been helped by God, and so I stand here giving my witness to all, to small and great alike. What I say is the very same thing which the prophets and Moses said was going to happen: ^23 (B)that the Messiah must suffer and be the first one to rise from death, to announce the light of salvation to the Jews and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴ As Paul defended himself in this way, Festus shouted at him, “You are mad, Paul! Your great learning is driving you mad!”

²⁵ Paul answered, “I am not mad, Your Excellency! I am speaking the sober truth. ²⁶ King Agrippa! I can speak to you with all boldness, because you know about these things. I am sure that you have taken notice of every one of them, for this thing has not happened hidden away in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do!”

²⁸ Agrippa said to Paul, “In this short time do you think you will make me a Christian?”

²⁹ “Whether a short time or a long time,” Paul answered, “my prayer to God is that you and all the rest of you who are listening to me today might become what I am—except, of course, for these chains!”

³⁰ Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others got up, ³¹ and after leaving they said to each other, “This man has not done anything for which he should die or be put in prison.” ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to the Emperor.”