Acts 26 — NWB
26Verse 1Then Agrippa said to Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:Verse 2I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee, concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews:Verse 3Especially, 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.Verse 4My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among my own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews,Verse 5Who knew me from the beginning, (if they would testify) that after the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.Verse 6And now I stand, and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers:Verse 7To which promise our twelve tribes, assiduously serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.Verse 8Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?Verse 9I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.Verse 10Which 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 .Verse 11And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.Verse 12Upon which as I went to Damascus, with authority and commission from the chief priests,Verse 13At mid-day, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, surpassing the brightness of the sun, shining around me, and them who journeyed with me.Verse 14And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads.Verse 15And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.Verse 16But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of the things which thou hast seen, and of the things in which I will appear to thee;Verse 17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send thee,Verse 18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them who are sanctified by faith that is in me.Verse 19Upon which O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.Verse 20But showed first to them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.Verse 21For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me .Verse 22Having therefore obtained help from God, I continue to this day, testifying both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:Verse 23That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light to the people, and to the Gentiles.Verse 24And as he was thus speaking for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee insane.Verse 25But he said, I am not insane, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.Verse 26For 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.Verse 27King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.Verse 28Then Agrippa said to Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.Verse 29And 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.Verse 30And when he had thus spoken, the king rose, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:Verse 31And when they had gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death, or of bonds.Verse 32Then said Agrippa to Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Cesar.