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26 At sinabi ni Agripa kay Pablo, Ipinahihintulot sa iyong magsaysay ka sa ganang iyo. Nang magkagayo'y iniunat ni Pablo ang kaniyang kamay, at ginawa ang kaniyang pagsasanggalang:

Ikinaliligaya kong lubha, haring Agripa, na sa harapan mo'y gawin ko ang aking pagsasanggalang sa araw na ito tungkol sa lahat ng mga bagay na isinasakdal ng mga Judio laban sa akin.

Lalong-lalo na sapagka't bihasa ka sa lahat ng mga kaugalian at mga suliranin na mayroon ang mga Judio: kaya nga ipinamamanhik ko sa iyo na pagdalitaan mong dinggin ako.

Ang akin ngang pamumuhay mula sa aking pagkabata, na nang una'y inugali ko sa gitna ng aking bansa at sa Jerusalem, ay nalalaman ng lahat ng mga Judio;

Na napagtatalastas nila mula pa nang una, kung ibig nilang magsisaksi, na alinsunod sa lalong mahigpit na sekta ng aming relihion ay nabuhay akong isang Fariseo.

At ngayo'y nakatayo ako upang hatulan dahil sa pagasa sa pangakong ginawa ng Dios sa aming mga magulang;

Dahil sa pangakong ito'y ang aming labingdalawang angkan ay buong pusong nagsisipaglingkod sa Dios gabi't araw, na inaasahang kakamtin. At tungkol sa pagasang ito ako'y isinasakdal ng mga Judio, Oh hari!

Bakit inaakala ninyong ito'y hindi mapaniniwalaan, kung binubuhay ng Dios ang mga patay?

Tunay na ako ma'y nagisip na dapat akong gumawa ng maraming mga bagay laban sa pangalan ni Jesus na taga Nazaret.

10 At ginawa ko rin ito sa Jerusalem: at kinulong ko sa mga bilangguan ang marami sa mga banal, pagkatanggap ko ng kapamahalaan sa mga pangulong saserdote, at nang sila'y ipinapapatay, ay ibinibigay ko ang aking pagsangayon laban sa kanila.

11 At madalas sa pagpaparusa ko sa kanila sa lahat ng mga sinagoga, ay pinipilit ko silang magsipamusong; at sa totoong pagkagalit ko sa kanila, ay sila'y pinaguusig ko hanggang sa mga bayan ng ibang lupain.

12 Hinggil dito sa paglalakbay kong patungo sa Damasco na taglay ang kapamahalaan at bilin ng mga pangulong saserdote,

13 Nang katanghalian, Oh hari, ay nakita ko sa daan ang isang ilaw na mula sa langit, na lalong maningning kay sa araw, at lumiwanag sa palibot ko at sa mga nagsisipaglakbay na kasama ko.

14 At nang mangapasubasob sa lupa kaming lahat, ay narinig ko ang isang tinig na nagsasalita sa akin sa wikang Hebreo, Saulo, Saulo, bakit mo ako pinaguusig? mahirap sa iyo ang sumikad sa mga matulis.

15 At sinabi ko, Sino ka baga, Panginoon? At sinabi ng Panginoon, Ako'y si Jesus na iyong pinaguusig.

16 Datapuwa't magbangon ka, at ikaw ay tumindig sa iyong mga paa: sapagka't dahil dito'y napakita ako sa iyo, upang ihalal kitang ministro at saksi din naman ng mga bagay na nakita mo sa akin, at ng mga bagay na pagpapakitaan ko sa iyo;

17 Na ililigtas kita sa bayan, at sa mga Gentil, na sa kanila'y sinusugo kita,

18 Upang idilat mo ang kanilang mga mata, upang sila'y mangagbalik sa ilaw mula sa kadiliman at mula sa kapangyarihan ni Satanas hanggang sa Dios, upang sila'y magsitanggap ng kapatawaran ng mga kasalanan at ng mga mana sa kasamahan ng mga pinapaging banal sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya sa akin.

19 Dahil nga dito, Oh haring Agripa, hindi ako nagsuwail sa pangitain ng kalangitan:

20 Kundi nangaral akong unauna sa mga taga Damasco, at sa Jerusalem din naman, at sa buong lupain ng Judea, at gayon din sa mga Gentil, na sila'y mangagsisi at mangagbalik-loob sa Dios, na mangagsigawa ng mga gawang karapatdapat sa pagsisisi.

21 Dahil dito'y hinuli ako ng mga Judio sa templo, at pinagsisikapang ako'y patayin.

22 Nang aking tamuhin nga ang tulong na mula sa Dios, ay nananatili ako hanggang sa araw na ito na nagpapatotoo sa maliliit at gayon din sa malalaki, na wala akong sinasabing anoman kundi ang sinabi ng mga propeta at ni Moises na mangyayari;

23 Kung paano na ang Cristo ay kailangang maghirap, at kung paano na siya muna sa pamamagitan ng pagkabuhay na maguli ng mga patay ay magtatanyag ng ilaw sa bayan, at gayon din sa mga Gentil.

24 At nang magawa na niyang gayon ang kaniyang pagsasanggalang ay sinabi ni Festo ng malakas na tinig, Pablo, ikaw ay ulol; ang kalakhan ng dunong mo ay siyang sa iyo'y nagpapaulol.

25 Datapuwa't sinabi ni Pablo, Hindi ako ulol, kagalanggalang na Festo; kundi nagsasalita ako ng mga salitang katotohanan at kahinahunan.

26 Sapagka't nalalaman ng hari ang mga bagay na ito, na sa kaniya'y nagsasalita naman ako ng buong laya: sapagka't naniniwala ako na sa kaniya'y walang nalilingid sa mga bagay na ito; sapagka't ito'y hindi ginawa sa isang sulok.

27 Haring Agripa, naniniwala ka baga sa mga propeta? Nalalaman kong naniniwala ka.

28 At sinabi ni Agripa kay Pablo, Sa kakaunting paghikayat ay ibig mo akong maging Cristiano.

29 At sinabi ni Pablo, Loobin nawa ng Dios, na sa kakaunti o sa marami man, ay hindi lamang ikaw, kundi pati ng lahat ng mga nagsisipakinig sa akin ngayon, ay pawang maging katulad ko naman, tangi lamang sa mga tanikalang ito.

30 At nagtindig ang hari, at ang gobernador, at si Bernice, at ang mga nagsiupong kasama nila:

31 At nang sila'y makahiwalay, ay nangagsalitaan sila sa isa't isa, na nagsisipagsabi, Ang taong ito ay walang anomang ginagawa na marapat sa kamatayan o sa mga tanikala.

32 At sinabi ni Agripa kay Festo, mapalalaya sana ang taong ito, kung hindi naghabol kay Cesar.

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

26 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, unto our fathers:

Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

Paul Defends Himself

26 Agrippa said to Paul, “You may now speak to defend yourself.”

Then Paul raised his hand and began to speak. He said, “King Agrippa, I will answer all the charges that the Jews make against me. I think it is a blessing that I can stand here before you today. I am very happy to talk to you, because you know so much about all the Jewish customs and the things that the Jews argue about. Please listen to me patiently.

“All the Jews know about my whole life. They know the way I lived from the beginning in my own country and later in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time. If they want to, they can tell you that I was a good Pharisee. And the Pharisees obey the laws of the Jewish religion more carefully than any other group of Jewish people. Now I am on trial because I hope for the promise that God made to our ancestors. This is the promise that the 12 tribes of our people hope to receive. For this hope the Jews serve God day and night. My king, the Jews have accused me because I hope for this same promise! Why do any of you people think it is impossible for God to raise people from death?

“I too thought I ought to do many things against Jesus from Nazareth. 10 And in Jerusalem I did many things against God’s people. The leading priests gave me the power to put many of them in jail. When they were being killed, I agreed that it was a good thing. 11 In every synagogue, I often punished them. I tried to make them say evil things against Jesus. I was so angry against them that I even went to other cities to find them and punish them.

12 “One time the leading priests gave me permission and the power to go to Damascus. 13 On the way there, at noon, I saw a light from heaven. The light was brighter than the sun. It flashed all around me and the men who were traveling with me. 14 We all fell to the ground. Then I heard a voice speaking to me in the Jewish language.[a] The voice said, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you doing things against me? You are only hurting yourself by fighting me.’ 15 I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The Lord said, ‘I am Jesus. I am the One you are trying to hurt. 16 Stand up! I have chosen you to be my servant. You will be my witness—you will tell people the things that you have seen and the things that I will show you. This is why I have come to you today. 17 I will not let your own people hurt you. And I will keep you safe from the non-Jewish people too. These are the people I am sending you to. 18 I send you to open their eyes that they may turn away from darkness to the light. I send you that they may turn away from the power of Satan and turn to God. Then their sins can be forgiven and they can have a place with those people who have been made holy by believing in me.’

19 “King Agrippa, after I had this vision from heaven, I obeyed it. 20 I began telling people that they should change their hearts and lives and turn to God. I told them to do things to show that they really had changed. I told this first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and in every part of Judea, and also to the non-Jewish people. 21 This is why the Jews took me and were trying to kill me in the Temple. 22 But God helped me and is still helping me today. With God’s help I am standing here today and telling all people what I have seen. But I am saying nothing new. I am saying what Moses and the prophets said would happen. 23 They said that the Christ would die and be the first to rise from death. They said that the Christ would bring light to the Jewish and non-Jewish people.”

Paul Tries to Persuade Agrippa

24 While Paul was saying these things to defend himself, Festus said loudly, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Too much study has driven you crazy!”

25 Paul said, “Most Excellent Festus, I am not crazy. My words are true. They are not the words of a foolish man. 26 King Agrippa knows about these things. I can speak freely to him. I know that he has heard about all of these things. They did not happen off in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe what the prophets wrote? I know you believe!”

28 King Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian in such a short time?”

29 Paul said, “Whether it is a short or a long time, I pray to God that not only you but every person listening to me today would be saved and be like me—except for these chains I have!”

30 Then King Agrippa, Governor Festus, Bernice, and all the people sitting with them stood up 31 and left the room. They were talking to each other. They said, “There is no reason why this man should die or be put in jail.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “We could let this man go free, but he has asked Caesar to hear his case.”

Footnotes

  1. 26:14 Jewish language Aramaic, the language of the Jews in the first century.