Home Prior Books Index
←Prev   Acts 26 as rendered by/in  Next→ 

Did you notice?
 You can SEARCH IslamAwakened: 

26:1  So Agrippa said to · Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then · Paul stretched out his hand and began to make his defense:
26:2  “Regarding all the things of which I am being accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that it is before you that I am about to make my defense today,
26:3  especially because you are well acquainted with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
26:4  All the Jews know · my manner of life · from my youth, which from the beginning was spent among · my own people in Jerusalem,
26:5  for they have known me from the first, if they are willing to go on record, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest party of our religious system.
26:6  And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to · our fathers, ·
26:7  to which · our twelve tribes hope to attain, worshipping strenuously night and day. It is for this hope, your Excellency, that I am being accused by Jews!
26:8  Why is it thought incredible among you that · God raises the dead?
26:9  I thought to myself that I ought to do many deeds hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
26:10  And I did so · in Jerusalem; · not only did I lock up in prison many of the saints, · after receiving authority from the chief priests, but also when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.
26:11  And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme; and since I was so vehemently angry at them, I pursued them even · to · foreign cities.
26:12  “On one of these journeys I was going to · Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
26:13  and at midday I saw on the way, O king, a light from heaven, brighter than · the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.
26:14  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.’
26:15  And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
26:16  But get up and stand on · your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you a servant and witness both to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you.
26:17  I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you
26:18  to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to · God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith · in me.’
26:19  So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
26:20  but I declared to those in Damascus first, then also to those in Jerusalem and through all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to · God, performing works worthy of repentance.
26:21  It was for that reason that the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
26:22  Obtaining help, therefore, · from · God, until · this day I have stood testifying both to small and great, saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:
26:23  that the Christ was to suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
26:24  As Paul was saying these things · in his defense, · Festus said in a loud · voice, “You are out of your mind, Paul! · Much learning is driving you insane!”
26:25  · But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but true and rational are the words that I declare.
26:26  For the king knows about these matters, and to him · I am speaking boldly, for I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner.
26:27  Do you believe, King Agrippa, in the prophets? I know that you believe.”
26:28  · Then Agrippa said to · Paul, “In too short a time you believe you are making a Christian of me.”
26:29  · · Paul replied, “I would to God that whether the time be short or long, not only you but also all those who are listening to me today would also become as I am, except for · these chains.”
26:30  Then the king stood up, and the governor · and Bernice and those sitting with them;
26:31  and after they had left the room, they spoke to one another, saying, “This man is doing nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.” ·
26:32  And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free · if he had not appealed to Caesar.”