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26 ENTONCES Agripa dijo á Pablo: Se te permite hablar por ti mismo. Pablo entonces, extendiendo la mano, comenzó á responder por sí, diciendo:

Acerca de todas las cosas de que soy acusado por los Judíos, oh rey Agripa, me tengo por dichoso de que haya hoy de defenderme delante de ti;

Mayormente sabiendo tú todas las costumbres y cuestiones que hay entre los Judíos: por lo cual te ruego que me oigas con paciencia.

Mi vida pues desde la mocedad, la cual desde el principio fué en mi nación, en Jerusalem, todos los Judíos la saben:

Los cuales tienen ya conocido que yo desde el principio, si quieren testificarlo, conforme á la más rigurosa secta de nuestra religión he vivido Fariseo.

Y ahora, por la esperanza de la promesa que hizo Dios á nuestros padres, soy llamado en juicio;

A la cual promesa nuestras doce tribus, sirviendo constantemente de día y de noche, esperan que han de llegar. Por la cual esperanza, oh rey Agripa, soy acusado de los Judíos.

Qué! ¿Júzgase cosa increíble entre vosotros que Dios resucite los muertos?

Yo ciertamente había pensando deber hacer muchas cosas contra el nombre de Jesús de Nazaret:

10 Lo cual también hice en Jerusalem, y yo encerré en cárcel es á muchos de los santos, recibida potestad de los príncipes de los sacerdotes; y cuando eran matados, yo dí mi voto.

11 Y muchas veces, castigándolos por todas las sinagogas, los forcé á blasfemar; y enfurecido sobremanera contra ellos, los perseguí hasta en las ciudades extrañas.

12 En lo cual ocupado, yendo á Damasco con potestad y comisión de los príncipes de los sacerdotes,

13 En mitad del día, oh rey, vi en el camino una luz del cielo, que sobrepujaba el resplandor del sol, la cual me rodeó y á los que iban conmigo.

14 Y habiendo caído todos nosotros en tierra, oí una voz que me hablaba, y decía en lengua hebraica: Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues? Dura cosa te es dar coces contra los aguijones.

15 Yo entonces dije: ¿Quién eres, Señor? Y el Señor dijo: Yo soy Jesús, á quien tú persigues.

16 Mas levántate, y ponte sobre tus pies; porque para esto te he aparecido, para ponerte por ministro y testigo de las cosas que has visto, y de aquellas en que apareceré á ti:

17 Librándote del pueblo y de los Gentiles, á los cuales ahora te envío,

18 Para que abras sus ojos, para que se conviertan de las tinieblas á la luz, y de la potestad de Satanás á Dios; para que reciban, por la fe que es en mí, remisión de pecados y suerte entre los santificados.

19 Por lo cual, oh rey Agripa, no fuí rebelde á la visión celestial:

20 Antes anuncié primeramente á los que están en Damasco, y Jerusalem, y por toda la tierra de Judea, y á los gentiles, que se arrepintiesen y se convirtiesen á Dios, haciendo obras dignas de arrepentimiento.

21 Por causa de esto los Judíos, tomándome en el templo, tentaron matarme.

22 Mas ayudado del auxilio de Dios, persevero hasta el día de hoy, dando testimonio á pequeños y á grandes, no diciendo nada fuera de las cosas que los profetas y Moisés dijeron que habían de venir:

23 Que Cristo había de padecer, y ser el primero de la resurrección de los muertos, para anunciar luz al pueblo y á los Gentiles.

24 Y diciendo él estas cosas en su defensa, Festo á gran voz dijo: Estás loco, Pablo: las muchas letras te vuelven loco.

25 Mas él dijo: No estoy loco, excelentísimo Festo, sino que hablo palabras de verdad y de templanza.

26 Pues el rey sabe estas cosas, delante del cual también hablo confiadamente. Pues no pienso que ignora nada de esto; pues no ha sido esto hecho en algún rincón.

27 ¿Crees, rey Agripa, á los profetas? Yo sé que crees.

28 Entonces Agripa dijo á Pablo: Por poco me persuades á ser Cristiano.

29 Y Pablo dijo: ­Pluguiese á Dios que por poco ó por mucho, no solamente tú, mas también todos los que hoy me oyen, fueseis hechos tales cual yo soy, excepto estas prisiones!

30 Y como hubo dicho estas cosas, se levantó el rey, y el presidente, y Bernice, y los que se habían sentado con ellos;

31 Y como se retiraron aparte, hablaban los unos á los otros, diciendo: Ninguna cosa digna ni de muerte, ni de prisión, hace este hombre.

32 Y Agripa dijo á Festo: Podía este hombre ser suelto, si no hubiera apelado á César.

Paul's Defense Before Agrippa

26 So (A)Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

“I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today (B)against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the (C)customs and (D)controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

(E)“My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among (F)my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that (G)according to the strictest (H)party of our (I)religion I have lived as (J)a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in (K)the promise made by God to our fathers, (L)to which (M)our twelve tribes hope to (N)attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope (O)I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought (P)incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

(Q)“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of (R)Jesus of Nazareth. 10 (S)And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority (T)from the chief priests, but (U)when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And (V)I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them (W)blaspheme, and (X)in raging fury against them I (Y)persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Paul Tells of His Conversion

12 “In this connection (Z)I journeyed 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, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me (AA)in the Hebrew language,[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? 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 and (AB)stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, (AC)to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 (AD)delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—(AE)to whom I (AF)am sending you 18 (AG)to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from (AH)the power of Satan to God, that they may receive (AI)forgiveness of sins and (AJ)a place among those who are sanctified (AK)by faith in me.’

19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to (AL)the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first (AM)to those in Damascus, (AN)then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also (AO)to the Gentiles, that they should (AP)repent and (AQ)turn to God, performing deeds (AR)in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason (AS)the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 (AT)To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so (AU)I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what (AV)the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 (AW)that the Christ (AX)must suffer and that, (AY)by being the first (AZ)to rise from the dead, (BA)he would proclaim (BB)light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, (BC)you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, (BD)most excellent Festus, but I am speaking (BE)true and (BF)rational words. 26 For (BG)the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be (BH)a Christian?”[b] 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day (BI)might become such as I am—except for (BJ)these chains.”

30 Then the king rose, and (BK)the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, (BL)“This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, (BM)“This man could have been set (BN)free if he had not appealed (BO)to Caesar.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:14 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)
  2. Acts 26:28 Or In a short time you would persuade me to act like a Christian!

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: “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) 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.

“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. 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) And now it is because of my hope(K) in what God has promised our ancestors(L) that I am on trial today. 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) Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?(P)

“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

  1. Acts 26:14 Or Hebrew

Paul Defends Himself before Agrippa

26 Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You have permission to speak for yourself.’ Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself:

‘I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defence today against all the accusations of the Jews, because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg of you to listen to me patiently.

‘All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship day and night. It is for this hope, your Excellency,[a] that I am accused by Jews! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

‘Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.[b] 10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem; with authority received from the chief priests, I not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death. 11 By punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was so furiously enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.

Paul Tells of His Conversion

12 ‘With this in mind, I was travelling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 when at midday along the road, your Excellency,[c] I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. 14 When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew[d] language, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.” 15 I asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me[e] and to those in which I will appear to you. 17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

Paul Tells of His Preaching

19 ‘After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place: 23 that the Messiah[f] must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.’

Paul Appeals to Agrippa to Believe

24 While he was making this defence, Festus exclaimed, ‘You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!’ 25 But Paul said, ‘I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth. 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?’[g] 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.’

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.’ 32 Agrippa said to Festus, ‘This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor.’

Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:7 Gk O king
  2. Acts 26:9 Gk the Nazorean
  3. Acts 26:13 Gk O king
  4. Acts 26:14 That is, Aramaic
  5. Acts 26:16 Other ancient authorities read the things that you have seen
  6. Acts 26:23 Or the Christ
  7. Acts 26:28 Or Quickly you will persuade me to play the Christian

26 And Agrippa said to Rav Sha’ul, "It is permitted for you to speak concerning yourself." Then Rav Sha’ul, having stretched out his hand, was making his hitstaddekut (defense), saying,

"I have considered myself fortunate that it is before you, Agrippa HaMelech, that I am able to make my hitstaddekut today concerning everything of which I am accused by Yehudim.

"Most of all, you are a bukki (expert, meivin) in all the minhagim and issues of the Yehudim; therefore, I beg you to listen patiently to me.

"All the Yehudim have da’as of my Yiddishkeit from my earliest youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Yerushalayim.

"They have had da’as of this for a long time, if they are willing to bear edut, that according to the most machmir kat of our Orthodox Jewish faith my life has been lived out as a Parush.

"And now I stand here on trial on account of my tikvah in the havtacha made to Avoteinu,

"A havtacha Sheneym Asar Shevateinu have tikvah to attain, as they with earnestness worship Hashem yomam valailah. It if for this tikvah, your Excellency, that I am accused by Yehudim!

"Why is it considered incredible by any of you that Hashem makes the Mesim to stand up alive?

"Indeed, I myself thought it necessary to do many opposing things against ha-Shem of Yehoshua from Natzeret.

10 "And this I also did in Yerushalayim; and armed with samchut received from the Rashei Hakohanim, many of the kadoshim I locked up in the beis hasohar; and I cast my vote keneged (against) them when they received the death penalty.

11 "And throughout all the shuls I often punished them, forcing them to commit Chillul Hashem gidduf (blasphemy), and since I was so enraged against them, I was bringing redifah on them even as far as foreign cities.

12 "This it was, that as I was traveling to Damascus with authorization and permission from the Rashei Hakohanim,

13 "At noon on the derech, O Melech, I saw from Shomayim an ohr, more brilliant than the shemesh, shining around me and around the ones traveling with me.

14 "And we all fell down to the ground. Then I heard a kol saying to me in the language of the Hebrews, ‘Sha’ul, Sha’ul, why are you bringing redifah upon me? It is hard for you to kick keneged (against) the prod.’

15 "And I said, ‘Who are you Adoni?’ And HaAdon said, ‘I am Yehoshua upon whom you are bringing redifah.

16 ‘But get up and stand on your feet. For this tachlis, then, I appeared to you, to give you s’michah as a mesharet, an eved, and an eidus (witness), both of what things you have seen and the things which I will reveal to you. [Ezek 2:1; Dan 10:11]

17 ‘I will deliver you from your own people and from the Goyim to whom I am sending you, [YIRMEYAH 1:8,19]

18 ‘To open their eyes, to turn them from choshech to ohr and from the samchut of Hasatan to Hashem, that they receive selichat avon and nachalah among the ones having been set apart in kedushah by emunah in me.' [YESHAYAH 35:5; TEHILLIM 18:28; YESHAYAH 42:7,16]

19 "O Agrippa HaMelech, I was not disobedient to the chazon from Shomayim. [YESHAYAH 50:5]

20 "But beginning with the ones in Damascus and also with those in Yerushalayim, and with all the region of Yehudah and with the Goyim, I was preaching they should make teshuva and turn to Hashem, doing ma’asim mitzvot worthy of teshuva. [YIRMEYAH 18:11; 35:15]

21 "Because of these things, the unbelieving Yehudim seized me while I was in the Beis Hamikdash, and were trying to kill me.

22 "To this day I have obtained ezer (help) from Hashem, to stand and give solemn edut (testimony) before both ketanim and Gedolim, testifying about nothing beyond the Orthodox Jewish faith based on what the Nevi’im and Moshe Rabbenu said would happen:

23 "That is, the yissurim (sufferings) of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, and that by being rishon to stand up alive in the Techiyas HaMoshiach, he would proclaim ohr both to K’lal Yisroel and the Nations."

24 And while he was saying these things in his hitstaddekut, Festus in a kol gadol shouts, "Rav Sha’ul, all your yeshiva learning has made you meshuggah!"

25 But Rav Sha’ul says, "I am not meshuggah, most excellent Festus; I am speaking dvarim of Emes and Ta’am (Reason).

26 "For HaMelech has da’as of these matters, to whom also I am speaking freely, for I am sure that absolutely none of these things escape his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.

27 "Agrippa HaMelech, do you believe in the Nevi’im? I have da’as that you do believe."

28 And Agrippa said to Rav Sha’ul, "You think, do you, that as quick as that you can make me mekabel Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach?"

29 But Rav Sha’ul said, "I would daven that Hashem, quickly or not, might make not only you but all listening to me today as I am, apart from these sharsherot (chains)."

30 HaMelech and the Moshel and Bernice and the ones sitting with them got up.

31 And having withdrawn, they were saying to one another, "This man does nothing worthy of the death penalty or imprisonment."

32 And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released, if he had not appealed to Caesar."