Add parallel Print Page Options

24 Now while [a]Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! [b]Great (A)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 utter words [c]of sober truth. 26 For the king [d](C)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 [e]corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know you believe.” 28 But Agrippa replied to Paul, “[f]In such short time [g]are you persuading me to become a (D)Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “I would pray to God, that whether [h]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 (E)chains.”

30 (F)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, “(G)This man is not doing anything worthy of death or [i]imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been (H)set free if he had not (I)appealed to Caesar.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:24 Lit he
  2. Acts 26:24 Lit The many letters
  3. Acts 26:25 Lit of truth and rationality
  4. Acts 26:26 Or understands
  5. Acts 26:26 A hidden or secret place
  6. Acts 26:28 Or With a little
  7. Acts 26:28 Or you are persuading me to become a Christian
  8. Acts 26:29 Or with a little or with much
  9. Acts 26:31 Lit bonds

Paul Appeals to Agrippa to Believe

24 While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!”(A) 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth.(B) 26 Indeed, the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely, for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?”(C) 29 Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.”(D)

30 Then the king got up and with him the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them, 31 and as they were leaving they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.”(E) 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor.”(F)

Read full chapter