Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹⁹ `So, king Agrippa, I obeyed what the one from heaven told me to do.

²⁰ I told the good news to the people of Damascus and Jerusalem. Then I told it all over Judea. I went to those who are not Jews. I told everyone that they must stop doing wrong things and turn to God. I told them they must show by the way they live that they have stopped doing wrong things.

²¹ That is why the leaders of the Jews caught me in the temple and tried to kill me.

²² God has always helped me up to today. I have stood and talked to both small people and great people. I have said nothing more than what the prophets and Moses said would happen.

²³ They said Christ must suffer. They said he would be the first person to rise from death. He would be the first person to bring news of light to the Jews and those who are not Jews.'

²⁴ While Paul was saying these things Festus shouted, `Paul, you are crazy! All your book learning is making you crazy.'

²⁵ Paul said, `No, great ruler Festus, I am not crazy. But what I say is true. It makes good sense.

²⁶ The king knows about these things. I am not afraid to talk to him about them. I am sure that not one of these things happened without his knowing about it. This did not happen in secret.

²⁷ King Agrippa do you believe the prophets? I know you believe them.'

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, `You are trying to make me a Christian right away.'

²⁹ `Right away or later,' said Paul. `I wish that all who hear me today might be what I am. That is, what I am without these chains.'