Atos 26

Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa

1 So *See ch. 9:15Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

2 "I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today *ch. 25:7,19;[ver. 7]against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the *See ch. 6:14customs and *See ch. 18:15controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 *[Gal. 1:13] "My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among *ch. 24:17;28:19my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that *ch. 22:3according to the strictest *See ch. 24:5party of our *James 1:26,27religion I have lived as *ch. 23:6a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in *See ch. 13:32the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 *[ch. 2:33;Heb. 10:36;11:13,39] to which *Matt. 19:28;Luke 22:30;James 1:1;Rev. 21:12;[Ezra 6:17] our twelve tribes hope to *Phil. 3:11attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope *ver. 2I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought *[ch. 17:3;1 Cor. 15:12]incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

9 *1 Tim. 1:13;[John 16:2]; See ch. 3:17"I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of *ch. 22:8Jesus of Nazareth. 10 *See ch. 8:3And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority *ver. 12;ch. 9:1,2,14,21;22:4,5from the chief priests, but *See ch. 22:20when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And *ch. 22:19I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them *See ch. 13:45blaspheme, and *ch. 9:1in raging fury against them I *ch. 22:5persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Paul Tells of His Conversion

12 "In this connection *For ver. 12-18, see ch. 9:3-8;22:6-11I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me *ch. 21:40;22:2in the Hebrew language,*26:14 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.16 But rise and *Ezek. 2:1;Dan. 10:11stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, *See ch. 22:14,15to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,17 *[ch. 12:11;1 Chr. 16:35;Jer. 1:8,19;15:20] delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—*See ch. 9:15to whom I *[Rom. 11:13;1 Tim. 2:7]am sending you18 *Isa. 35:5;42:7to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from *See Luke 22:53;1 Cor. 5:5the power of Satan to God, that they may receive *See ch. 5:31forgiveness of sins and *See ch. 20:32a place among those who are sanctified *[ch. 15:9;2 Thess. 2:13]by faith in me.’

19 "Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to *ver. 13the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first *ch. 9:19,20to those in Damascus, *ch. 9:26-29;22:17-20then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also *See ch. 13:46to the Gentiles, that they should *See ch. 2:38repent and *See ch. 14:15turn to God, performing deeds *Matt. 3:8;Luke 3:8in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason *ch. 21:27,30,31;24:18the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 *2 Cor. 1:10;[Heb. 13:5,6] To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so *[Eph. 6:13] I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what *See ch. 10:43;24:14the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 *[Luke 24:26;Heb. 2:10]; See ch. 3:18that the Christ *[John 12:34] must suffer and that, *1 Cor. 15:20,23;Col. 1:18;Rev. 1:5by being the first *Rom. 1:4to rise from the dead, *[Eph. 2:17] he would proclaim *ver. 18;See Luke 2:32light both to our people and to the Gentiles."

24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, *ch. 12:15;[ver. 8;ch. 17:32;2 Kgs. 9:11;Jer. 29:26;Mark 3:21;John 10:20;1 Cor. 1:23;2:14;4:10]you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind." 25 But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, *See ch. 24:2most excellent Festus, but I am speaking *[2 Pet. 1:16] true and *[2 Cor. 5:13]rational words. 26 For *[ver. 3]the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe." 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time would you persuade me to be *ch. 11:26;1 Pet. 4:16a Christian?"*26:28 Or In a short time you would persuade me to act like a Christian!29 And Paul said, "Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day *[1 Cor. 7:7] might become such as I am—except for *See ch. 21:33these chains."

30 Then the king rose, and *See ch. 23:24the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, *See ch. 23:29"This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment." 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, *ch. 28:18"This man could have been set *ch. 25:11;28:19free if he had not appealed *See ch. 9:15to Caesar."