Acts

Paul’s Testimony to Agrippa

1Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:

2“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews,

3especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.

4Surely all the Jews know how I have lived from my earliest childhood among my own people, and also in Jerusalem.

5They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion.

6And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers,

7the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews.

8Why would any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

9So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.

11I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

12In this pursuit I was on my way to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.

13About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions.

14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew,‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

15‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.

16‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you.

17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them

18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’

19So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

20First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.

21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courtsand tried to kill me.

22But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:

23that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Festus Interrupts Paul’s Defense

24At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”

25But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.

26For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him. I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.

27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”

29“Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”

30Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them.

31On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”

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

1Then Agrippa said to Paul: Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching forth his hand, began to make his answer.

2I think myself happy, O king Agrippa, that I am to answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews.

3Especially as thou knowest all, both customs and questions that are among the Jews: Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4And my life indeed from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation in Jerusalem, all the Jews do know:

5Having known me from the beginning (if they will give testimony) that according to the most sure sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

6And now for the hope of the promise that was made by God to the fathers, do I stand subject to judgment:

7Unto which, our twelve tribes, serving night and day, hope to come. For which hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews.

8Why should it be thought a thing incredible, that God should raise the dead?

9And I indeed did formerly think, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10Which also I did at Jerusalem, and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority of the chief priests: and when they were put to death, I brought the sentence.

11And oftentimes punishing them, in every synagogue, I compelled them to blaspheme: and being yet more mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.

12Whereupon when I was going to Damascus with authority and permission of the chief priest,

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

14And when we were all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.

15And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord answered: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16But rise up, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared to thee, that I may make thee a minister, and a witness of those things which thou hast seen, and of those things wherein I will appear to thee,

17Delivering thee from the people, and from the nations, unto which now I send thee:

18To open their eyes, that they may be converted from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and a lot among the saints, by the faith that is in me.

19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not incredulous to the heavenly vision:

20But to them first that are at Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and unto all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles did I preach, that they should do penance, and turn to God, doing works worthy of penance.

21For this cause the Jews, when I was in the temple, having apprehended me, went about to kill me.

22But being aided by the help of God, I stand unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other thing than those which the prophets, and Moses did say should come to pass:

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

24As he spoke these things, and made his answer, Festus said with a loud voice: Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad.

25And Paul said: I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and soberness.

26For the king knoweth of these things, to whom also I speak with confidence. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him. For neither was any of these things done in a corner.

27Believest thou the prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that thou believest.

28And Agrippa said to Paul: In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian.

29And Paul said: I would to God, that both in a little and in much, not only thou, but also all that hear me, this day, should become such as I also am, except these bands.

30And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them.

31And when they were gone aside, they spoke among themselves, saying: This man hath done nothing worthy of death or of bands.

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