24 While [a]Paul was stating these things in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! [b]Your great (A)learning is [c]driving you insane.” 25 But Paul *said, “I am not insane, (B)most excellent Festus; on the contrary, I am speaking out with [d]truthful and rational words. 26 For the king [e](C)knows about these matters, and I also speak to him with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a [f]corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 Agrippa replied to Paul, “[g]In a short time you are going to persuade me to [h]make a (D)Christian of myself.” 29 And Paul said, “I would [i]wish to God that even [j]in a short or long time not only you, but also all who hear me this day would become such as I myself am, except for these (E)chains.”

30 (F)The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, 31 and when they had gone out, they began talking to one another, saying, “(G)This man is not doing anything deserving death or [k]imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been (H)set free if he had not (I)appealed to Caesar.”

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:24 Lit he
  2. Acts 26:24 Lit The many letters; i.e., education
  3. Acts 26:24 Lit turning you to madness
  4. Acts 26:25 Lit words of truth and rationality
  5. Acts 26:26 Or understands
  6. Acts 26:26 I.e., a hidden or secret place
  7. Acts 26:28 Or With a little
  8. Acts 26:28 Or act as a Christian
  9. Acts 26:29 Or pray to
  10. Acts 26:29 Or with a little or with much
  11. Acts 26:31 Lit bonds

24 And as[a] he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Your[b] great learning is driving[c] you insane!”[d] 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking words of truth and rationality. 26 For the king knows about these things, to whom also I am speaking freely, for I am not convinced that these things in any way have escaped[e] his notice, because this was[f] not done[g] in a corner. 27 Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.” 28 But Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?”[h] 29 And Paul replied, “I pray to God, whether in a short time or in a long time, not only you but also all those who are listening to me today may become such people as I also am, except for these bonds!”

30 Both the king and the governor got up, and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And as they[i] were going out, they were talking to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:24 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was saying … in his defense”)
  2. Acts 26:24 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  3. Acts 26:24 Literally “is turning”
  4. Acts 26:24 Literally “to madness”
  5. Acts 26:26 Some manuscripts have “that any of these things in any way has escaped”
  6. Acts 26:26 Literally “is”
  7. Acts 26:26 Literally “having been done”
  8. Acts 26:28 Or “In a short time you are persuading me to become a Christian”
  9. Acts 26:31 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were going out”)