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