³¹ he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of ^[a]the Christ, that ^(A)He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh ^[b]suffer decay.

²² So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day ^(A)testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what ^(B)the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; ^23 [a](C)that ^[b]the Christ was ^[c]to suffer, and ^[d]that ^(D)by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim ^(E)light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴ While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! ^[e]Your great ^(F)learning is ^[f]driving you mad.” ²⁵ But Paul *said, “I am not out of my mind, ^(G)most excellent Festus, but I utter words ^[g]of sober truth. ²⁶ For the king ^[h](H)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 ^[i]corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you ^[j]do.” ²⁸ Agrippa replied to Paul, “^[k]In a short time you ^[l]will persuade me to ^[m]become a ^(I)Christian.” ²⁹ And Paul said, “^[n]I would wish to God, that whether ^[o]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 ^(J)chains.”

^30 (K)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, “^(L)This man is not doing anything worthy of death or ^[p]imprisonment.” ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been ^(M)set free if he had not ^(N)appealed to Caesar.”