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Acts 26
New Matthew Bible
Acts 26
New Matthew Bible
King Agrippa hears Paul, who describes his calling from the beginning.
26 Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand and answered for himself:
2 I think myself fortunate, King Agrippa, because I may answer this day before you to all the things I am accused of by the Jews, 3 especially because you are expert in all the customs and questions that are among the Jews. Therefore I beseech you to hear me patiently.
4 My life from my childhood, which was at first among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews 5 who knew me from the beginning know, if they would testify it. For in accordance with the most strict sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 to which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God day and night, hope to attain. For which hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible to you, that God should raise the dead up again?
9 I also truly thought in myself that I ought to do many things to utterly oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth – 10 which things I also did in Jerusalem, where I shut up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the high priests. And when they were put to death, I joined in giving the sentence. 11 And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme, and was even more mad upon them, and persecuted them even to distant cities.
12 In going about these things, as I was going to Damascus with leave and authority from the high priests, 13 at midday, O King, I saw in the road a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round about me and those who were journeying with me. 14 When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the pricks. 15 And I said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you persecute. 16 But rise and stand up on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose: to make you a minister and a witness both of those things you have seen, and of those things in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, and may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
19 And so, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but preached first to those of Damascus, and then at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do the right works of repentance. 21 Because of this, the Jews caught me in the temple and went about to kill me. 22 Nevertheless, I obtained help from God, and continue to this day witnessing both to small and to great, speaking of no other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say would come: 23 that Christ would suffer, and that he would be the first to rise from death, and would show light to the people and to the Gentiles.
24 As he thus answered for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning has made you mad.
25 And Paul said, I am not mad, most dear Festus, but speak the words of truth and soberness. 26 The king knows of these things, before whom I speak freely. I do not think any of these things are hidden from him. For this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know well that you believe.
28 Agrippa said to Paul, You bring me in mind somewhat to become a Christian.
29 And Paul said, I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, were not only somewhat, but altogether such as I am, except for these bonds.
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up with the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them. 31 And when they had gone apart, they talked between themselves, saying, This man does nothing worthy of death, nor of bonds. 32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been released, if he had not appealed to Caesar.
Acts 26
Living Bible
Acts 26
Living Bible
26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Go ahead. Tell us your story.”
So Paul, with many gestures,[a] presented his defense:
2 “I am fortunate, King Agrippa,” he began, “to be able to present my answer before you, 3 for I know you are an expert on Jewish laws and customs. Now please listen patiently!
4 “As the Jews are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood in Tarsus[b] and later at Jerusalem, and I lived accordingly. 5 If they would admit it, they know that I have always been the strictest of Pharisees when it comes to obedience to Jewish laws and customs. 6 But the real reason behind their accusations is something else—it is because I am looking forward to the fulfillment of God’s promise made to our ancestors. 7 The twelve tribes of Israel strive night and day to attain this same hope I have! Yet, O King, for me it is a crime, they say! 8 But is it a crime to believe in the resurrection of the dead? Does it seem incredible to you that God can bring men back to life again?
9 “I used to believe that I ought to do many horrible things to the followers of Jesus of Nazareth.[c] 10 I imprisoned many of the saints in Jerusalem, as authorized by the High Priests; and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 I used torture to try to make Christians everywhere curse Christ. I was so violently opposed to them that I even hounded them in distant cities in foreign lands.
12 “I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 when one day about noon, sir, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Hebrew, ‘Paul, Paul, why are you persecuting me? You are only hurting yourself.’[d]
15 “‘Who are you, sir?’ I asked.
“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 Now stand up! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and my witness. You are to tell the world about this experience and about the many other occasions when I shall appear to you. 17 And I will protect you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am going to send you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes to their true condition so that they may repent and live in the light of God instead of in Satan’s darkness, so that they may receive forgiveness for their sins and God’s inheritance along with all people everywhere whose sins are cleansed away, who are set apart by faith in me.’
19 “And so, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to that vision from heaven! 20 I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and through Judea, and also to the Gentiles that all must forsake their sins and turn to God—and prove their repentance by doing good deeds. 21 The Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this and tried to kill me, 22 but God protected me so that I am still alive today to tell these facts to everyone, both great and small. I teach nothing except what the Prophets and Moses said— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and be the First to rise from the dead, to bring light to Jews and Gentiles alike.”
24 Suddenly Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Your long studying has broken your mind!”
25 But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. I speak words of sober truth. 26 And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak frankly for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? But I know you do—”
28 Agrippa interrupted him. “With trivial proofs like these,[e] you expect me to become a Christian?”
29 And Paul replied, “Would to God that whether my arguments are trivial or strong, both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”
30 Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. 31 As they talked it over afterwards they agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything worthy of death or imprisonment.”
32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “He could be set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar!”
Footnotes
- Acts 26:1 with many gestures, literally, “stretching forth his hand.”
- Acts 26:4 my earliest childhood in Tarsus, literally, “my own nation.”
- Acts 26:9 the followers of Jesus of Nazareth, literally, “the name.”
- Acts 26:14 You are only hurting yourself, literally, “It is hard for you to kick against the oxgoad.”
- Acts 26:28 With trivial proofs like these, literally, “With little [persuasion].”
Acts 26
New International Version
Acts 26
New International Version
26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”(A)
So Paul motioned with his hand(B) and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you(C) today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews,(D) 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs(E) and controversies.(F) Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child,(G) from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time(H) and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect(I) of our religion, living as a Pharisee.(J) 6 And now it is because of my hope(K) in what God has promised our ancestors(L) that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes(M) are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night.(N) King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me.(O) 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?(P)
9 “I too was convinced(Q) that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose(R) the name of Jesus of Nazareth.(S) 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people(T) in prison,(U) and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.(V) 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished,(W) and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice(X) saying to me in Aramaic,[a](Y) ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet.(Z) I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.(AA) 17 I will rescue you(AB) from your own people and from the Gentiles.(AC) I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes(AD) and turn them from darkness to light,(AE) and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins(AF) and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’(AG)
19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient(AH) to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus,(AI) then to those in Jerusalem(AJ) and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles,(AK) I preached that they should repent(AL) and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.(AM) 21 That is why some Jews seized me(AN) in the temple courts and tried to kill me.(AO) 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen(AP)— 23 that the Messiah would suffer(AQ) and, as the first to rise from the dead,(AR) would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”(AS)
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind,(AT) Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning(AU) is driving you insane.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent(AV) Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things,(AW) and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”(AX)
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”(AY)
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice(AZ) and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”(BA)
32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free(BB) if he had not appealed to Caesar.”(BC)
Footnotes
- Acts 26:14 Or Hebrew
New Matthew Bible (NMB)
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.