chapter_Acts_26
Acts 26:1: And Agrippa said unto Paul, 'It is permitted to thee to speak for thyself;' then Paul having stretched forth the hand, was making a defence: Acts 26:2: 'Concerning all things of which I am accused by Jews, king Agrippa, I have thought myself happy, being about to make a defence before thee to-day, Acts 26:3: especially knowing thee to be acquainted with all things &#8212; both customs and questions &#8212; among Jews; wherefore, I beseech thee, patiently to hear me. Acts 26:4: The manner of my life then, indeed, from youth &#8212; which from the beginning was among my nation, in Jerusalem &#8212; know do all the Jews, Acts 26:5: knowing me before from the first, (if they may be willing to testify,) that after the most exact sect of our worship, I lived a Pharisee; Acts 26:6: and now for the hope of the promise made to the fathers by God, I have stood judged, Acts 26:7: to which our twelve tribes, intently night and day serving, do hope to come, concerning which hope I am accused, king Agrippa, by the Jews; Acts 26:8: why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead? Acts 26:9: I, indeed, therefore, thought with myself, that against the name of Jesus of Nazareth it behoved me many things to do, Acts 26:10: which also I did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I in prison did shut up, from the chief priests having received the authority; they also being put to death, I gave my vote against them, Acts 26:11: and in every synagogue, often punishing them, I was constraining them to speak evil, being also exceedingly mad against them, I was also persecuting them even unto strange cities. Acts 26:12: In which things, also, going on to Damascus &#8212; with authority and commission from the chief priests &#8212; Acts 26:13: at mid-day, I saw in the way, O king, out of heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me a light &#8212; and those going on with me; Acts 26:14: and we all having fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute? hard for thee against pricks to kick! Acts 26:15: 'And I said, Who art thou, Lord? and he said, I am Jesus whom thou dost persecute; Acts 26:16: but rise, and stand upon thy feet, for for this I appeared to thee, to appoint thee an officer and a witness both of the things thou didst see, and of the things in which I will appear to thee, Acts 26:17: delivering thee from the people, and the nations, to whom now I send thee, Acts 26:18: to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the authority of the Adversary unto God, for their receiving forgiveness of sins, and a lot among those having been sanctified, by faith that is toward me. Acts 26:19: 'Whereupon, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, Acts 26:20: but to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem, to all the region also of Judea, and to the nations, I was preaching to reform, and to turn back unto God, doing works worthy of reformation; Acts 26:21: because of these things the Jews &#8212; having caught me in the temple &#8212; were endeavouring to kill me. Acts 26:22: 'Having obtained, therefore, help from God, till this day, I have stood witnessing both to small and to great, saying nothing besides the things that both the prophets and Moses spake of as about to come, Acts 26:23: that the Christ is to suffer, whether first by a rising from the dead, he is about to proclaim light to the people and to the nations.' Acts 26:24: And, he thus making a defence, Festus with a loud voice said, 'Thou art mad, Paul; much learning doth turn thee mad;' Acts 26:25: and he saith, 'I am not mad, most noble Festus, but of truth and soberness the sayings I speak forth; Acts 26:26: for the king doth know concerning these things, before whom also I speak boldly, for none of these things, I am persuaded, are hidden from him; for this thing hath not been done in a corner; Acts 26:27: thou dost believe, king Agrippa, the prophets? I have known that thou dost believe!' Acts 26:28: And Agrippa said unto Paul, 'In a little thou dost persuade me to become a Christian!' Acts 26:29: and Paul said, 'I would have wished to God, both in a little, and in much, not only thee, but also all those hearing me to-day, to become such as I also am &#8212; except these bonds.' Acts 26:30: And, he having spoken these things, the king rose up, and the governor, Bernice also, and those sitting with them, Acts 26:31: and having withdrawn, they were speaking unto one another, saying &#8212; 'This man doth nothing worthy of death or of bonds;' Acts 26:32: and Agrippa said to Festus, 'This man might have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.'
Acts