Acts 26
Legacy Standard Bible
26 (A)Now Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul, stretching out his hand, began to make his defense:
2 “Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I regard myself blessed, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; 3 [a]especially because you are an expert in all (B)customs and [b]questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “So then, all Jews know (C)my manner of life from my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; 5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a (D)Pharisee (E)according to the strictest (F)sect of our religion. 6 And now I am standing here being tried (G)for the hope of (H)the promise made by God to our fathers; 7 the promise (I)to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this (J)hope, O King, I am being (K)accused by Jews. 8 Why is it considered unbelievable among all of you (L)if God does raise the dead?
9 “So then, (M)I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to (N)the name of Jesus the Nazarene. 10 And this is [c]just what I (O)did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the [d]saints in prisons, having (P)received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I (Q)cast my vote against them. 11 And (R)as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being (S)furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them (T)even to [e]foreign cities.
Paul Tells of His Conversion
12 “[f]While so engaged (U)as I was journeying 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, [g]brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 14 And when we had (V)all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the [h](W)Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? [i]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 up and (X)stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to (Y)appoint you a (Z)servant and (AA)a witness not only to the things which you have [j]seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 (AB)rescuing you (AC)from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to (AD)open their eyes so that they may turn from (AE)darkness to light and from the authority of (AF)Satan to God, that they may receive (AG)forgiveness of sins and an (AH)inheritance among those who have been sanctified by (AI)faith in Me.’
19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but kept declaring both (AJ)to those of Damascus first, and also (AK)at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even (AL)to the Gentiles, that they should (AM)repent and turn to God, practicing deeds (AN)appropriate to repentance. 21 For this reason some Jews (AO)seized me in the temple and were trying (AP)to put me to death. 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God to this day, I stand here (AQ)bearing witness both to small and great, stating nothing but what (AR)the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; 23 [k](AS)that the [l]Christ was [m]to suffer, and [n]that (AT)as first of the resurrection from the dead, He was going to proclaim (AU)light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
24 Now while [o]Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! [p]Great (AV)learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul *said, “I am not out of my mind, (AW)most excellent Festus, but I utter words [q]of sober truth. 26 For the king [r](AX)knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a [s]corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know you believe.” 28 But Agrippa replied to Paul, “[t]In such short time [u]are you persuading me to become a (AY)Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “I would pray to God, that whether [v]in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these (AZ)chains.”
30 (BA)And the king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, 31 and when they had gone aside, they began talking to one another, saying, “(BB)This man is not doing anything worthy of death or [w]imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been (BC)set free if he had not (BD)appealed to Caesar.”
Footnotes
- Acts 26:3 Or because you are especially expert
- Acts 26:3 Or controversial issues
- Acts 26:10 Lit also
- Acts 26:10 Or holy ones
- Acts 26:11 Or outlying
- Acts 26:12 Lit In which things
- Acts 26:13 Lit above the brightness of
- Acts 26:14 Jewish Aramaic
- Acts 26:14 An idiom referring to an animal’s futile resistance to being prodded with goads
- Acts 26:16 Two early mss seen Me
- Acts 26:23 Lit whether
- Acts 26:23 Messiah
- Acts 26:23 Lit subject to suffering
- Acts 26:23 Lit whether
- Acts 26:24 Lit he
- Acts 26:24 Lit The many letters
- Acts 26:25 Lit of truth and rationality
- Acts 26:26 Or understands
- Acts 26:26 A hidden or secret place
- Acts 26:28 Or With a little
- Acts 26:28 Or you are persuading me to become a Christian
- Acts 26:29 Or with a little or with much
- Acts 26:31 Lit bonds
Hechos 26
Dios Habla Hoy
Pablo presenta su caso ante el rey Agripa
26 Entonces Agripa le dijo a Pablo:
—Puedes hablar en tu defensa.
Pablo alzó la mano y comenzó a hablar así: 2 «Me siento feliz de poder hablar hoy delante de Su Majestad, oh rey Agripa, para defenderme de todas las acusaciones que los judíos han presentado contra mí, 3 sobre todo porque Su Majestad conoce todas las costumbres de los judíos y las cosas que discutimos. Por eso le pido que me oiga con paciencia.
4 »Todos los judíos saben cómo viví entre ellos, en mi tierra y en Jerusalén, desde mi juventud. 5 También saben, y lo pueden declarar si quieren, que siempre he sido fariseo, que es la secta más estricta de nuestra religión. 6 Y ahora me han traído a juicio precisamente por esta esperanza que tengo en la promesa que Dios hizo a nuestros antepasados. 7 Nuestras doce tribus de Israel esperan ver el cumplimiento de esta promesa, y por eso adoran a Dios y le sirven día y noche. Por esta misma esperanza, oh rey Agripa, los judíos me acusan ahora. 8 ¿Por qué no creen ustedes que Dios resucita a los muertos?
9 »Yo mismo pensaba antes que debía hacer muchas cosas en contra del nombre de Jesús de Nazaret, 10 y así lo hice en Jerusalén. Con la autorización de los jefes de los sacerdotes, metí en la cárcel a muchos de los creyentes; y cuando los mataban, yo estaba de acuerdo. 11 Muchas veces los castigaba para obligarlos a negar su fe. Y esto lo hacía en todas las sinagogas, y estaba tan furioso contra ellos que los perseguía hasta en ciudades extranjeras.
12 »Con ese propósito me dirigía a la ciudad de Damasco, autorizado y comisionado por los jefes de los sacerdotes. 13 Pero en el camino, oh rey, vi a mediodía una luz del cielo, más fuerte que la luz del sol, que brilló alrededor de mí y de los que iban conmigo. 14 Todos caímos al suelo, y oí una voz que me decía en hebreo: “Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues? Te estás haciendo daño a ti mismo, como si dieras coces contra el aguijón.” 15 Entonces dije: “¿Quién eres, Señor?” El Señor me contestó: “Yo soy Jesús, el mismo a quien estás persiguiendo. 16 Pero levántate, ponte de pie, porque me he aparecido a ti para designarte como mi servidor y testigo de lo que ahora has visto y de lo que todavía has de ver de mí. 17 Te voy a librar de los judíos y también de los no judíos, a los cuales ahora te envío. 18 Te mando a ellos para que les abras los ojos y no caminen más en la oscuridad, sino en la luz; para que no sigan bajo el poder de Satanás, sino que sigan a Dios; y para que crean en mí y reciban así el perdón de los pecados y una herencia en el pueblo santo de Dios.”
19 »Así que, oh rey Agripa, no desobedecí a la visión del cielo, 20 sino que primero anuncié el mensaje a los que estaban en Damasco, luego a los de Jerusalén y de toda la región de Judea, y también a los no judíos, invitándolos a convertirse, y a volverse a Dios, y a hacer obras que demuestren esa conversión. 21 Por este motivo, los judíos me arrestaron en el templo y quisieron matarme. 22 Pero con la ayuda de Dios sigo firme hasta ahora, hablando de Dios a todos, pequeños y grandes. Nunca les digo nada aparte de lo que los profetas y Moisés dijeron que había de suceder: 23 que el Mesías tenía que morir, pero que después de morir sería el primero en resucitar, y que anunciaría la luz de la salvación tanto a nuestro pueblo como a las otras naciones.»
Respuesta de Agripa
24 Al decir Pablo estas cosas en su defensa, Festo gritó:
—¡Estás loco, Pablo! De tanto estudiar te has vuelto loco.
25 Pero Pablo contestó:
—No estoy loco, excelentísimo Festo; al contrario, lo que digo es razonable y es la verdad. 26 Ahí está el rey Agripa, que conoce bien estas cosas, y por eso hablo con tanta libertad delante de él; porque estoy seguro de que él también sabe todo esto, ya que no se trata de cosas sucedidas en algún rincón escondido. 27 ¿Cree Su Majestad lo que dijeron los profetas? Yo sé que lo cree.
28 Agripa le contestó:
—¿Piensas hacerme cristiano en tan poco tiempo?
29 Pablo dijo:
—Que sea en poco tiempo o en mucho, quiera Dios que no solamente Su Majestad, sino también todos los que me están escuchando hoy, lleguen a ser como yo, aunque sin estas cadenas.
30 Entonces se levantó el rey, y también el gobernador, junto con Berenice y todos los que estaban allí sentados, 31 y se fueron aparte a hablar del asunto. Decían entre sí:
—Este hombre no ha hecho nada que merezca la muerte; ni siquiera debe estar en la cárcel.
32 Y Agripa dijo a Festo:
—Se podría haber soltado a este hombre, si él mismo no hubiera pedido ser juzgado por el emperador.
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.
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