Acts 26

1Then Agrippa said to Paul: Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul, stretching forth his hand, began to make his answer.● 2I think myself happy, O king Agrippa, that I am to answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews.● 3Especially as thou knowest all, both customs and questions, that are among the Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.● 4And my life indeed from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation in Jerusalem, all the Jews do know:● 5Having known me from the beginning (if they will give testimony) that according to the most sure sect of our religion I lived, a Pharisee.● 6And now for the hope of the promise that was made by God to the fathers, do I stand subject to judgment:● 7Unto which, our twelve tribes, serving night and day, hope to come. For which hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews.● 8Why should it be thought a thing incredible that God should raise the dead?● 9And I indeed did formerly think that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.● 10Which also I did at Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority of the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I brought the sentence.● 11And oftentimes punishing them, in every synagogue, I compelled them to blaspheme: and being yet more mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.● 12Whereupon, when I was going to Damascus with authority and permission of the chief priest,● 13At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them that were in company with me.● 14And when we were all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the good.● 15And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord answered: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.● 16But rise up and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared to thee, that I may make thee a minister and a witness of those things which thou hast seen and of those things wherein I will appear to thee,● 17Delivering thee from the people and from the nations unto which now I send thee:● 18To open their eyes, that they may be converted from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a lot among the saints, by the faith that is in me.● 19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not incredulous to the heavenly vision.● 20But to them first that are at Damascus and at Jerusalem, and unto all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles did I preach, that they should do penance and turn to God, doing works worthy of penance.● 21For this cause, the Jews, when I was in the temple, having apprehended me, went about to kill me.● 22But being aided by the help of God, I stand unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other thing than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come to pass:● 23That Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should shew light to the people and to the Gentiles.● 24As he spoke these things and made his answer, Festus said with a loud voice: Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad.● 25And Paul said: I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and soberness.● 26For the king knoweth of these things, to whom also I speak with confidence. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him. For neither was any of these things done in a corner.● 27Believest thou the prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that thou believest.● 28And Agrippa said to Paul: In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian.● 29And Paul said: I would to God that both in a little and in much, not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, should become such as I also am, except these bands.● 30And the king rose up, and the governor and Bernice and they that sat with them.● 31And when they were gone aside, they spoke among themselves, saying: This man hath done nothing worthy of death or of bands.● 32And Agrippa said to Festus: This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar.●