1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.
Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2 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: 3 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.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among
mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 5 Which knew me from the
beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of
our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the
hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: 7 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. 8 Why
should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise
the dead?
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 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. 11 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.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission
from the chief priests, 13 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.
14 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.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord?
And HE said, I am
Jesus WHOM thou persecutest.
16 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; 17 Delivering thee from the people,
and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 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.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the
heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at
Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the
Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for
repentance.
21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went
about to kill me.
22 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:
23 That Christ should suffer, and that HE should be the first that should
rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the
Gentiles.
24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud
voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth
the words of truth and soberness.
26 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.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29 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.
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor,
and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
31 And when they were gone
aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing
worthy of death or of bonds.
32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man
might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
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