Acts:26

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* Then Agrippa said to Paul , "It is permitted for you to speak for yourself ."So Paul , having extended his hand , spoke in his own defense : * I have considered myself fortunate , King Agrippa , being able to speak in my own defense today , concerning all the things of which I am accused of by the Jews , * especially since you are well versed both in all the customs and questions in relation to the Jews ; therefore I beg you to hear me patiently . * Therefore my way of life from my youth , which from the beginning was spent among my own nation in Jerusalem , all the Jews know , * since they have known me for a long time , if they are willing to testify , that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee . * And now for the hope of the promise having been made by God to the fathers , I stand before you judged , * [a promise ] to which our twelve tribes , as they earnestly serve God night and day , hope to attain . Concerning which hope I am accused by [the ] Jews , King Agrippa . * Why is it considered [such ]an unbelievable thing by you [people ]if God raises the dead ? * Therefore I thought in myself that it was necessary to do many hostile things against the name of Jesus the Nazarene ; * which also I did in Jerusalem , and many of the saints I shut up in prisons , having received authority from the chief priests ; and when they were being put to death , I cast my vote against them . * And I punished them often in all the synagogues , and compelled them to blaspheme ; and being exceedingly enraged against them , I persecuted them even as far as to foreign cities . * "In which [pursuits ] also , as I traveled to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests , * at midday , O king , along the road I saw a light from heaven , brighter than the sun , shining around me and those traveling with me . * And when we all had fallen down to the ground , I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language , 'Saul , Saul , why are you persecuting Me ? It is hard for you to kick against the goads .' * "So I said , 'Who are You , Lord ?' And He said , 'I am Jesus , whom you are persecuting . * But arise and stand on your feet ; for I have appeared to you , to appoint you a minister and a witness both [of the things ] which you have seen , and [of the things ] which I will yet reveal to you , * delivering you from the people , and from the Gentiles , to whom I am sending you , * to open their eyes , in order to turn them from darkness to light , and from the authority of Satan to God , [in order for ]them to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me .' * "Therefore , King Agrippa , I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision , * but to those first in Damascus and in Jerusalem , and throughout all the region of Judea , and to the Gentiles , proclaiming that they must repent and turn to God , and do works worthy of repentance . * Because of these things the Jews arrested me in the temple and attempted to kill me . * Therefore , having obtained help from God , until this day I stand , witnessing both to common [people ] and great [people ], saying nothing except the things which both the prophets and Moses spoke of as being about to happen , * that the Christ was to suffer , that as the first to rise from the dead , He was about to proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles ." * Now as he spoke these things , Festus said with a loud voice , "You are mad , Paul ! Your higher learning is driving you to madness !" * But he said , "I am not mad , most excellent Festus , but I boldly declare words of truth and reason . * For the king knows about these things , to whom also I speak freely ; for I am persuaded that none of these things escapes his notice , since this thing was not done in a corner . * "Do you believe the prophets , King Agrippa ? I know that you believe ." * And Agrippa said to Paul , "In a short time , you are persuading me to become a Christian !" * And Paul said , "I would pray to God , both in a short time and a long time , not only you , but also all who are hearing me today , would become such as I am , except for these chains ." * When he had said these things , the king stood up , as well as the governor and Bernice and those sitting together with them ; * and when they withdrew , they were speaking among themselves , saying , "This man practices nothing worthy of death or chains ." * Then Agrippa said to Festus , "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar ."

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