Acts 26
EasyEnglish Bible
Paul speaks to Agrippa
26 King Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You may now say what you think about this problem.’
Paul raised his hand so that people would listen to him. 2 He said, ‘King Agrippa, I am happy that you are here. I ask you to listen to me today. These Jews say that I have done some bad things. I will explain to you what is really true about all these things. 3 You yourself know all about the Jews. You know about how we live. You also know the things that we argue about with each other. So please be patient and listen to me.
4 The Jewish people have known me since I was born. They all know how I have lived among them. They knew me in the region where I was born. When I came to Jerusalem, they also know how I lived there. 5 So they have known me for a long time. They could tell you that I always obeyed our Jewish laws. They know that I was a Pharisee. I carefully obeyed God's Law, as a Pharisee does. But maybe they do not want to tell you all that. 6 So what is the reason that I stand here today for you to judge me? It is because I believe in God's promise to our ancestors. 7 He promised a great thing to our 12 Israelite families. We all expect to receive what God has promised to us. That is why we Jews always worship God, in the day and in the night. Like these Jews here, I believe in God's great promise. But that is the reason that they speak against me. 8 Is it impossible for God to cause dead people to become alive again? You should surely believe me when I say that.
9 I myself wanted to work against Jesus, the man from Nazareth, and against his message. 10 That is what I was doing in Jerusalem. The leaders of the priests gave me authority to put many of the believers in prison. I agreed with our leaders when they said, “These people must die.”
11 I went to our Jewish meeting places to take hold of believers. I told my men to punish them. I tried to make the believers say bad things against God. I was very angry with them. So I even travelled to cities in other countries to punish them.
12 For that reason, one day I was travelling to Damascus. The leaders of the priests in Jerusalem had sent me there. They had given me authority to take hold of the believers there. 13 Listen to this, King Agrippa! I was travelling along the road at midday. Suddenly I saw a very bright light in the sky. It was much brighter than the sun. It shone all round me and also round the men who were with me. 14 All of us fell down to the ground. I heard a voice that spoke to me in my own language, Hebrew.[a] He said “Saul, Saul, why do you fight against me? You are like an ox that kicks against its master's stick. So you are hurting yourself.”[b]
15 “Lord, who are you?” I asked.
He replied, “I am Jesus. And you are fighting against me. 16 Now you must get up. Stand on your feet. I have chosen you to be my servant. That is why I have appeared to you today. You must tell other people about what you have seen. After that, I will show you other things that you must tell people. 17 I will send you to speak about me to Jews and to Gentiles. Some of them will want to hurt you. But I will keep you safe. 18 You will help them to understand what is really true. They are like people who live in the dark. Teach them what is true about me. Then they will be like people who live in the light. Now Satan has power over them. Lead them from there into God's kingdom. Then God will forgive them for the wrong things that they have done. Because they believe in me, God will accept them as his own people.” ’
Paul tells Agrippa and Bernice about his work for God
19 ‘So you should know this, King Agrippa. I obeyed the things that I heard from heaven that day. 20 First, I taught God's message to the Jews in Damascus. Then I also taught God's message to the Jews in Jerusalem and in all of Judea region. Later I also spoke to the Gentiles. I said to all of them, “You must stop doing wrong things. You must turn to God. You must do good things. That will show that you have really changed how you live.” 21 That is the reason that the Jews took hold of me in the yard of the temple. That is also the reason why they wanted to kill me. 22 But God has helped me every day, even until today. So now I stand here and I can tell you what is true. I say the same thing to people who are very important and to people who are not important. I am telling you the same things that Moses and God's other prophets wrote about. They also said that these things would happen. 23 They said that God's special Messiah would have much pain and he would die. But God would raise him up to be alive again. He would be the first dead person to become alive and not die again. In that way, he would show God's message and bring light to people. He would save both Jewish people and Gentiles. That is what the prophets and Moses wrote. And I say the same thing.’
24 While Paul was still speaking to Agrippa, Festus shouted at him, ‘Paul, your mind is confused! You have learned many things. But all these things are making you crazy.’
25 Paul said, ‘Festus, sir, I am not crazy. Everything that I have said is true. It is not difficult to understand. 26 King Agrippa knows about these things. He understands what I am talking about. None of these things happened in secret places. So I am sure that he has heard news about all this. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe what God's prophets taught? I know that you do believe them.’
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Can you change what I believe in this short time? Should I become a Christian already? Is that what you think?’
29 Paul answered him, ‘It is not important if it takes a long time or a short time. I pray to God for you and for everyone who is listening to me today. I pray that you may all become like me. But I would not want you to become a prisoner like me!’
30 Then King Agrippa, the ruler Festus, and Bernice all got ready to leave. Everyone else there also stood up. 31 After they left the meeting room, they said to each other, ‘This man has not done anything bad. We should not kill him, or even hold him in prison.’
32 King Agrippa said to Festus, ‘We could have let this man go free from the prison. But he has asked that Caesar should judge him. So we cannot let him go free.’
Footnotes
- 26:14 Hebrew was the language of the Jews.
- 26:14 Jesus used a picture to show Saul what was happening. A farmer made his ox pull a cart for him. He used a sharp stick. It made the ox walk where he wanted it to go. The sharp stick hurt the ox if it went the wrong way. The stick also hurt the ox if it tried to kick it.
Acts 26
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Paul’s Defense before Agrippa
26 Agrippa said to Paul, “It is permitted for you to speak for yourself.”
Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that today I am going to make a defense before you about everything I am accused of by the Jews, 3 especially since you are an expert in 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 nation and in Jerusalem.(A) 5 They had previously known me for quite some time, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.(B) 6 And now I stand on trial for the hope(C) of the promise(D) made by God to our fathers, 7 the promise our 12 tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve Him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope.(E) 8 Why is it considered incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? 9 In fact, I myself supposed it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene.(F) 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 cast my vote against them.(G) 11 In all the synagogues I often tried to make them blaspheme by punishing them.(H) I even pursued them to foreign cities since I was greatly enraged at them.
Paul’s Account of His Conversion and Commission
12 “I was traveling to Damascus under(I) 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 the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’[a](J)
15 “Then I said, ‘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[b] and of what I will reveal to you.(K) 17 I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles. I now send you to them(L) 18 to open their eyes(M) so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that by faith in Me they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified.’(N)
19 “Therefore, 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.(O) 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple complex and were trying to kill me. 22 To this very day, I have obtained help that comes from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing else than what the prophets and Moses said would take place(P)— 23 that the Messiah must suffer, and that as the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”(Q)
Not Quite Persuaded
24 As he was making his defense this way, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You’re out of your mind,(R) Paul! Too much study is driving you mad!”
25 But Paul replied, “I’m not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment.(S) 26 For the king knows about these matters. It is to him I am actually speaking boldly. For I am convinced that none of these things escapes his notice, since this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?”
29 “I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am—except for these chains.”(T)
30 So the king, the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them got up, 31 and when they had left they talked with each other and said, “This man is doing nothing that deserves death or chains.”(U)
32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”(V)
Footnotes
- Acts 26:14 Sharp sticks used to prod animals, such as oxen in plowing
- Acts 26:16 Other mss read things in which you have seen Me
Acts 26
King James Version
26 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, unto our fathers:
7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
Acts 26
New King James Version
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 (A)happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer (B)for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am (C)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 (D)the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 (E)And now I stand and am judged for the hope of (F)the promise made by God to our fathers. 7 To this promise (G)our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God (H)night and day, (I)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?
9 (J)“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things [a]contrary to the name of (K)Jesus of Nazareth. 10 (L)This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority (M)from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 (N)And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Paul Recounts His Conversion(O)
12 (P)“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, (Q)to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will [b]deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, (R)to whom I [c]now send you, 18 (S)to open their eyes, in order (T)to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, (U)that they may receive forgiveness of sins and (V)an inheritance among those who are (W)sanctified[d] by faith in Me.’
Paul’s Post-Conversion Life
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but (X)declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do (Y)works befitting repentance. 21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those (Z)which the prophets and (AA)Moses said would come— 23 (AB)that the Christ would suffer, (AC)that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and (AD)would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
Agrippa Parries Paul’s Challenge
24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, (AE)you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”
25 But he said, “I am not [e]mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. 26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, (AF)knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
29 And Paul said, (AG)“I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
30 When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; 31 and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, (AH)“This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”
32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set (AI)free (AJ)if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Footnotes
- Acts 26:9 against
- Acts 26:17 rescue
- Acts 26:17 NU, M omit now
- Acts 26:18 set apart
- Acts 26:25 out of my mind
使 徒 行 傳 26
Chinese Union Version (Traditional)
26 亞 基 帕 對 保 羅 說 ： 准 你 為 自 己 辯 明 。 於 是 保 羅 伸 手 分 訴 ， 說 ：
2 亞 基 帕 王 阿 ， 猶 太 人 所 告 我 的 一 切 事 ， 今 日 得 在 你 面 前 分 訴 ， 實 為 萬 幸 ；
3 更 可 幸 的 ， 是 你 熟 悉 猶 太 人 的 規 矩 和 他 們 的 辯 論 ； 所 以 求 你 耐 心 聽 我 。
4 我 從 起 初 在 本 國 的 民 中 ， 並 在 耶 路 撒 冷 ， 自 幼 為 人 如 何 ， 猶 太 人 都 知 道 。
5 他 們 若 肯 作 見 證 就 曉 得 ， 我 從 起 初 是 按 著 我 們 教 中 最 嚴 緊 的 教 門 作 了 法 利 賽 人 。
6 現 在 我 站 在 這 裡 受 審 ， 是 因 為 指 望 神 向 我 們 祖 宗 所 應 許 的 ；
7 這 應 許 ， 我 們 十 二 個 支 派 ， 晝 夜 切 切 的 事 奉 神 ， 都 指 望 得 著 。 王 阿 ， 我 被 猶 太 人 控 告 ， 就 是 因 這 指 望 。
8 神 叫 死 人 復 活 ， 你 們 為 甚 麼 看 作 不 可 信 的 呢 ？
9 從 前 我 自 己 以 為 應 當 多 方 攻 擊 拿 撒 勒 人 耶 穌 的 名 ，
10 我 在 耶 路 撒 冷 也 曾 這 樣 行 了 。 既 從 祭 司 長 得 了 權 柄 ， 我 就 把 許 多 聖 徒 囚 在 監 裡 。 他 們 被 殺 ， 我 也 出 名 定 案 。
11 在 各 會 堂 ， 我 屢 次 用 刑 強 逼 他 們 說 褻 瀆 的 話 ， 又 分 外 惱 恨 他 們 ， 甚 至 追 逼 他 們 ， 直 到 外 邦 的 城 邑 。
12 那 時 ， 我 領 了 祭 司 長 的 權 柄 和 命 令 ， 往 大 馬 色 去 。
13 王 阿 ， 我 在 路 上 ， 晌 午 的 時 候 ， 看 見 從 天 發 光 ， 比 日 頭 還 亮 ， 四 面 照 著 我 並 與 我 同 行 的 人 。
14 我 們 都 仆 倒 在 地 ， 我 就 聽 見 有 聲 音 用 希 伯 來 話 向 我 說 ： 掃 羅 ！ 掃 羅 ！ 為 甚 麼 逼 迫 我 ？ 你 用 腳 踢 刺 是 難 的 ！
15 我 說 ： 主 阿 ， 你 是 誰 ？ 主 說 ： 我 就 是 你 所 逼 迫 的 耶 穌 。
16 你 起 來 站 著 ， 我 特 意 向 你 顯 現 ， 要 派 你 作 執 事 ， 作 見 證 ， 將 你 所 看 見 的 事 和 我 將 要 指 示 你 的 事 證 明 出 來 ；
17 我 也 要 救 你 脫 離 百 姓 和 外 邦 人 的 手 。
18 我 差 你 到 他 們 那 裡 去 ， 要 叫 他 們 的 眼 睛 得 開 ， 從 黑 暗 中 歸 向 光 明 ， 從 撒 但 權 下 歸 向 神 ； 又 因 信 我 ， 得 蒙 赦 罪 ， 和 一 切 成 聖 的 人 同 得 基 業 。
19 亞 基 帕 王 阿 ， 我 故 此 沒 有 違 背 那 從 天 上 來 的 異 象 ；
20 先 在 大 馬 色 ， 後 在 耶 路 撒 冷 和 猶 太 全 地 ， 以 及 外 邦 ， 勸 勉 他 們 應 當 悔 改 歸 向 神 ， 行 事 與 悔 改 的 心 相 稱 。
21 因 此 ， 猶 太 人 在 殿 裡 拿 住 我 ， 想 要 殺 我 。
22 然 而 我 蒙 神 的 幫 助 ， 直 到 今 日 還 站 得 住 ， 對 著 尊 貴 、 卑 賤 、 老 幼 作 見 證 ； 所 講 的 並 不 外 乎 眾 先 知 和 摩 西 所 說 將 來 必 成 的 事 ，
23 就 是 基 督 必 須 受 害 ， 並 且 因 從 死 裡 復 活 ， 要 首 先 把 光 明 的 道 傳 給 百 姓 和 外 邦 人 。
24 保 羅 這 樣 分 訴 ， 非 斯 都 大 聲 說 ： 保 羅 ， 你 癲 狂 了 罷 。 你 的 學 問 太 大 ， 反 叫 你 癲 狂 了 ！
25 保 羅 說 ： 非 斯 都 大 人 ， 我 不 是 癲 狂 ， 我 說 的 乃 是 真 實 明 白 話 。
26 王 也 曉 得 這 些 事 ， 所 以 我 向 王 放 膽 直 言 ， 我 深 信 這 些 事 沒 有 一 件 向 王 隱 藏 的 ， 因 都 不 是 在 背 地 裡 做 的 。
27 亞 基 帕 王 阿 ， 你 信 先 知 麼 ？ 我 知 道 你 是 信 的 。
28 亞 基 帕 對 保 羅 說 ： 你 想 少 微 一 勸 ， 便 叫 我 作 基 督 徒 阿 （ 或 作 ： 你 這 樣 勸 我 ， 幾 乎 叫 我 作 基 督 徒 了 ） ！
29 保 羅 說 ： 無 論 是 少 勸 是 多 勸 ， 我 向 神 所 求 的 ， 不 但 你 一 個 人 ， 就 是 今 天 一 切 聽 我 的 ， 都 要 像 我 一 樣 ， 只 是 不 要 像 我 有 這 些 鎖 鍊 。
30 於 是 ， 王 和 巡 撫 並 百 尼 基 與 同 坐 的 人 都 起 來 ，
31 退 到 裡 面 ， 彼 此 談 論 說 ： 這 人 並 沒 有 犯 甚 麼 該 死 該 綁 的 罪 。
32 亞 基 帕 又 對 非 斯 都 說 ： 這 人 若 沒 有 上 告 於 該 撒 ， 就 可 以 釋 放 了 。
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Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
