¹² “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.

Suffering for Being a Christian

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you^(A) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice^(B) inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ,^(C) so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.^{(D) 14} If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,^(E) you are blessed,^(F) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:^(A) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,

¹⁵ who killed the Lord Jesus^(A) and the prophets^(B) and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone ¹⁶ in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles^(C) so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.^(D) The wrath of God has come upon them at last.^[a]

² “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you^(A) today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews,^{(B) 3} and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs^(C) and controversies.^(D) 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,^(E) from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. ⁵ They have known me for a long time^(F) and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect^(G) of our religion, living as a Pharisee.^{(H) 6} And now it is because of my hope^(I) in what God has promised our ancestors^(J) that I am on trial today. ⁷ This is the promise our twelve tribes^(K) are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night.^(L) King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me.^{(M) 8} Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?^(N)

⁹ “I too was convinced^(O) that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose^(P) the name of Jesus of Nazareth.^{(Q) 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^(R) in prison,^(S) and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.^{(T) 11} Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished,^(U) and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

²² Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”

He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”^(A)

Paul Before Agrippa^(B)

²³ The next day Agrippa and Bernice^(C) came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community^(D) has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.^{(E) 25} I found he had done nothing deserving of death,^(F) but because he made his appeal to the Emperor^(G) I decided to send him to Rome.

¹¹ If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”^(A)

¹² After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Paul’s Trial Before Festus

25 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus^(A) went up from Caesarea^(B) to Jerusalem, ² where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul.^(C)

Paul’s Trial Before Felix

24 Five days later the high priest Ananias^(A) went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges^(B) against Paul before the governor.^{(C) 2} When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. ³ Everywhere and in every way, most excellent^(D) Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. ⁴ But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.

⁵ “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots^(E) among the Jews^(F) all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene^(G) sect^{(H) 6} and even tried to desecrate the temple;^(I) so we seized him. ^{[7] [a] 8} By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”

⁹ The other Jews joined in the accusation,^(J) asserting that these things were true.