Shared Word Translation
Acts 26
Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa
And Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul, stretching out his hand, made his defense:
“Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, especially because you are expert in all the customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
My manner of life from my youth, from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, all the Jews know, having known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.
And now I stand being judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope I am accused by Jews, O king. Why is it judged incredible by you if God raises the dead?
I myself indeed thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarene, which also I did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints I shut up in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them.
And in all the synagogues I was punishing them often and compelling them to blaspheme, and being exceedingly enraged against them, I was persecuting them even to foreign cities.
Paul Tells of His Conversion
In this pursuit, as I was going to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me.
And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet; for for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you as a servant and a witness both of the things in which you have seen me and of the things in which I will appear to you,
delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but was proclaiming first to those in Damascus, then also in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and were attempting to kill me. Therefore, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen,
that the Christ would suffer, that as the first to rise from the dead he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
Paul Appeals to Agrippa
And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you mad!” But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and soberness.
For the king knows about these things, to whom also 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. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”
And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time you persuade me to become a Christian?” And Paul said, “I would pray to God that whether in a short time or in a long time, not only you but also all who hear me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.”
And the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them, and going aside, they were speaking to one another, saying, “This man is doing nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”
And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”