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