Acts:26

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* AGRIPPA said to Paul , "You are at liberty to speak for yourself ." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense : * "In regard to all of the things of which I am accused by Jews , King Agrippa , I consider myself fortunate that I am to make my defense to-day before you , * since you are especially expert in all Jewish customs and questions . Therefore I pray you to hear me patiently . * "My life from boyhood , which was from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem , all Jews know . * They knew me from long ago , if they were willing to testify , and that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee . * And now I stand to be tried for the hope of the promise which God made to our fathers , * to which our twelve tribes devotedly serving God night and day hope to attain . For this hope I am accused by the Jews , O King . * "Why do all of you consider it incredible if God raises dead men ? * I thought with myself that I ought to do much against the name of Jesus the Nazarene . * And I did it in Jerusalem and many holy men I shut up in prison , getting authority from the high priests , and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them . * In all the synagogues and often I punished them and compelled them to say profane words . Being excessively mad against them , I pursued them even to foreign cities . * "Thus engaged , as I was journeying to Damascus with authority and commission from the high priests , * about midday , on the road , I saw , O King , a light above the brightness of the sun shining from heaven around me and my companions . * We all fell to the ground and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew , * I said , 'Who is speaking ?' He said , riversident @Acts:26:16 " /> riversident @Acts:26:17 " /> riversident @Acts:26:18 " /> * After that , King Agrippa , I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision , * but first to the people in Damascus and then to the people of Jerusalem and through all the land of Judaea and to the Gentiles , I proclaimed that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds suitable for a change of heart . * "For this reason Jews seized me in the Temple courts and tried to kill me . * But obtaining help from God I have continued until this day witnessing to small and great , saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would be , * that the Christ would suffer and that he first , by rising from the dead , would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles ." * While Paul was thus defending himself , Festus said loudly , "You are raving , Paul . Much learning is driving you insane ." * "I am not insane ," he said , "most noble Festus , but am uttering words of truth and soberness . * The King knows about this , and to him I speak with perfect frankness , for I am persuaded that not one of these things has escaped his attention , for this has not been done in a corner . * King Agrippa , do you believe the prophets ? I know that you believe them ." * Agrippa said to Paul , "With little effort you are persuading me to become a Christian ." * Paul said , "I would to God that whether with little or with much , not only you , but all who hear me this day , would become such as I am \'97 except for these chains ." * Then the King rose and the Governor and Bernice and those who had been sitting with them , * and after withdrawing they said to one another , "This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains ." * Agrippa said to Festus , "This man could have been set at liberty if he had not appealed to Caesar ."

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