Acts:26

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* And Agrippa said to Paul , It is permitted thee to speak for thyself . Then Paul stretching out his hand answered in his defence : * I count myself happy , king Agrippa , in having to answer to-day before thee concerning all of which I am accused by the Jews , * especially because thou art acquainted with all the customs and questions which are among the Jews ; wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently . * My manner of life then from my youth , which from its commencement was passed among my nation in Jerusalem , know all the Jews , * who knew me before from the outset [of my life ], if they would bear witness , that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee . * And now I stand to be judged because of the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers , * to which our whole twelve tribes serving incessantly day and night hope to arrive ; about which hope , O king , I am accused of [the ] Jews . * Why should it be judged a thing incredible in your sight if God raises the dead ? * I indeed myself thought that I ought to do much against the name of Jesus the Nazaraean . * Which also I did in Jerusalem , and myself shut up in prisons many of the saints , having received the authority from the chief priests ; and when they were put to death I gave my vote . * And often punishing them in all the synagogues , I compelled them to blaspheme . And , being exceedingly furious against them , I persecuted them even to cities out [of our own land ]. * And when , [engaged ] in this , I was journeying to Damascus , with authority and power from the chief priests , * at mid-day , on the way , I saw , O king , a light above the brightness of the sun , shining from heaven round about me and those who were journeying with me . * And , when we were all fallen to the ground , I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew tongue , Saul , Saul , why persecutest thou me ? [it is ] hard for thee to kick against goads . * And I said , Who art thou , Lord ? And the Lord said , I am Jesus whom thou persecutest : * but rise up and stand on thy feet ; for , for this purpose have I appeared to thee , to appoint thee to be a servant and a witness both of what thou hast seen , and of what I shall appear to thee in , * taking thee out from among the people , and the nations , to whom I send thee , * to open their eyes , that they may turn from darkness to light , and from the power of Satan to God , that they may receive remission of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me . * Whereupon , king Agrippa , I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision ; * but have , first to those both in Damascus and Jerusalem , and to all the region of Judaea , and to the nations , announced that they should repent and turn to God , doing works worthy of repentance . * On account of these things the Jews , having seized me in the temple , attempted to lay hands on and destroy me . * Having therefore met with [the ] help which is from God , I have stood firm unto this day , witnessing both to small and great , saying nothing else than those things which both the prophets and Moses have said should happen , * [namely ,] whether Christ should suffer ; whether he first , through resurrection of [the ] dead , should announce light both to the people and to the nations . * And as he answered for his defence with these things , Festus says with a loud voice , Thou art mad , Paul ; much learning turns thee to madness . * But Paul said , I am not mad , most excellent Festus , but utter words of truth and soberness ; * for the king is informed about these things , to whom also I speak with all freedom . For I am persuaded that of these things nothing is hidden from him ; for this was not done in a corner . * King Agrippa , believest thou the prophets ? I know that thou believest . * And Agrippa [said ] to Paul , In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian . * And Paul [said ], I would to God , both in little and in much , that not only thou , but all who have heard me this day , should become such as I also am , except these bonds . * And the king stood up , and the governor and Bernice , and those who sat with them , * and having gone apart , they spoke to one another saying , This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds . * And Agrippa said to Festus , This man might have been let go if he had not appealed to Caesar .

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