Paul
Before Agrippa
Then
Agrippa said to Paul,
'You
have permission to speak for yourself.'
So
Paul motioned with this hand and began his Defense:
'2
KING AGRIPPA,
I
CONSIDER MYSELF FORTUNATE
TO
STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS I MAKE MY DEFNSE
AGAINST
ALL THE ACCUSATIONS OF THE JEWS,
3
AND ESPECIALLY SO
BECAUSE
YOU ARE WELL ACQUAINTED
WITH
ALL THE JEWISH CUSTOMS AND CONTROVERSIES.
THEREFORE,
I BEG YOU TO LISTEN TO ME PATIENTLY.
4
'The Jews all know
The
way I have lived ever since I was child,
From
the beginning of my life in my own country,
And
also in Jerusalem.
5
They have known me for a long time and can testify,
If
they are willing,
That
according to the Strictest Sect of our Religion,
I
lived as a Pharisee.
6
And now it is because of my Hope
In
what God has Promised our fathers
That
I am on Trial today.
7
This is the Promise
Our Twelve Tribes are Hoping to see fulfilled
As
they earnestly serve God day and night.
O
king, it is because of this Hope
That
the Jews are accusing me.
8
Why should any of you consider it incredible
That
God raises the Dead?
9 I
too was convinced
That
I ought to do all that was possible
To
Oppose the Name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10
And that is just what I did in Jerusalem.
On
the Authority of the Chief Priests
I
put many of the Saints in Prison,
And
when they were put to Death,
I
cast my vote against them.
11
Many a time
I
went from one Synagogue to another
To
have them Punished,
And
I tried to Force them to Blaspheme.
In
my Obsession against them,
I
even went to Foreign Cities to Persecute them.
12
On one of these Journeys
I
was going to Damascus
With
the Authority and Commission of the Chief Priests.
13
About noon, O king,
As
I was on the road,
I
saw a light from Heaven,
Brighter
than the sun,
Blazing
around me and my companions.
14
We all fell to the ground,
And
I heard a Voice saying to me in Aramaic,
'SAUL,
SAUL, YOU DO YOU PERSUCUTE ME?
IT
IS HARD FOR YOU TO KICK AGAINST THE GOADS.'
15
Then I asked,
WHO
ARE YOU LORD?'
'I
AM JESUS, WHOM YOU ARE PERSECUTING,
GET
UP AND STAND ON YOUR FEET.
I
HAVE APPEARED TO YOU
TO
APPOINT YOU AS A SERVANT
AND
AS A WHITNESS OF WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN
OF
ME AND WHAT I WILL SHOW YOU.
17
I WILL RESCUE YOU FROM YOUR OWN PEOPLE
AND
FROM THE GENTILES.
18
I AM SENDING YOU TO OPEN THEIR EYES
AND
TURN THEM FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT,
AND
FROM THE POWER OF SATAN TO GOD,
SO
THAT THEY MAY RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF SINS
AND
A PLACE AMONG THOSE WHO ARE SANCTIFIED
BY
FAITH IN ME.'
19
So then, King Agrippa,
I
was not Disobedient to the Vision from Heaven.
20
First to those in Damascus,
Then
to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea,
And
to the Gentiles also, I Preached
THAT
THEY SHOULD REPENT AND TURN TO GOD
AND
PROVE THEIR REPENTANCE BY THEIR DEEDS.
21That
is why the Jews seized me in the Temple Courts
And
tried to Kill me.
22
But I have had God's help to this very day,
And
so I stand here and Testify to Small and Great alike.
I
AM SAYING NOTHING BEYOND WHAT THE PROPHETS
AND
MOSES SAID WOULD HAPPEN--
23
THAT THE CHRIST WOULD SUFFER AND,
AS
THE FIRST TO RISE FORM THE DEAD,
WOULD
PROCLAIM LIGHT TO HIS OWN PEOPLE
AND
TO THE GENTILES.
24
At this Point Festus Interrupted Paul's Defense.
'YOU
AREOUT OF YOUR MIND, PAUL!' he shouted.
'YOUR
GREAT LEARNING IS DRIVING YOU INSANE.'
25
I AM NOT INSANE, MOST EXCELLENT FESTUS,'
Paul
replied.
'WHAT
I AM SASYING IS TRUE AND REASONABLE.
26
The king is familiar with these things,
And
I can speak freely to him.
I
am convinced that none of this has Escaped his Notice,
BECAUSE
IT WAS NOT DONE IN A CORNER.
27
Then Agrippa said to Paul,
DO
YOU THINK IN SUCH A SHORT TIME
YOU
CAN PERSUADE ME TO BE A CHRISTIAN?'
29
Paul replied,
'SHORT
TIME OR LONG--
I
PRAY GOD THAT NOT ONLY YOU
BUT
ALL WHO ARE LISTENING TO ME TODAY
MAY
BECOME AS I AM,
EXCEPT
FOR THESE CHAINS.'
30
The king rose,
And
with him the Governor and Bernice
And
those sitting with them.
31
They left the room,
And
while talking with one another, they said,
THIS
MAN IS NOT DOING ANYTHNG
THAT
DESERVES DEATH OR IMPRISONMENT.'
32
Agrippa said to Festus,
'THIS
MAN COULD HAVE BEEN SET FREE,
IF
HE HAD NOT APPEALED TO CAESAR.'
(Acts
26)
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