ACTS Chapter 26 - Paul Before Agrippa

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)