Then
Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to
speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the
hand, and answered for himself:
02 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:
03 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.
04 My manner of life from my youth, which was at
the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem,
know all the Jews;
05 Which knew me from the beginning, if they
would testify, that after the most straitest sect
of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
06 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of
the promise made of God, unto our fathers:
07 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.
08 Why should it be thought a thing incredible
with you, that God should raise the dead?
09 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to
do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of
Nazareth.
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.
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.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority
and commission from the chief priests,
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.
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.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord?
And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
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;
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17 Delivering thee from the
people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I
send thee,
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.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I
was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at
Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of
Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they
should repent and turn to God, and do works meet
for repentance.
21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the
temple, and went about to kill me.
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:
23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should
be the first that should rise from the dead, and
should shew light unto the people, and to the
Gentiles.
24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said
with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself;
much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus;
but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For 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.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I
know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou
persuadest me to be a Christian.
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.
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up,
and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat
with them:
31 And when they were gone aside, they talked
between themselves, saying, This man doeth
nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might
have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed
unto Caesar.
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