Chapter 26, Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.
Then Paul stretched forth a 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 straightest 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.
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.
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.
Whereupon as I went to Damascus, with authority and commission from the
chief priests, 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.
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.
And I said, Who art thou, Lord?
And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.
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,
delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I
send thee, 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.
Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision,
but showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the
coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God,
and do works meet for repentance.
For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
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, that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the
first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people,
and to the Gentiles.
And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice,
Paul, thou art beside thyself.
Much learning doth make thee mad.
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth
and soberness.
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.
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?
I know that thou believest.
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
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.
And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice,
and they that sat with them.
And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves,
saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty,
if he had not appealed unto Caesar.