(KJV) Acts 26¹

⥃Paul’s Testimony to Agrippa ^{[ Acts 9:1–19 † Acts 22:1–21 ]}

[1] Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou² art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched³ forth the hand, and answered⁴ for himself: [2] 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: [3] Especially [because⁵ I know] thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear⁶ me patiently. [4] My manner⁷ of life from my youth, which⁸ was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; [5] Which knew me from the beginning, if⁹ they would testify, that¹⁰ after the most straitest sect¹¹ of our religion I lived a Pharisee. [6] And now I stand and am¹² judged for the hope of the promise¹³ made of God unto our fathers: [7] Unto which [promise] our¹⁴ twelve tribes, instantly¹⁵ serving [God] day and night¹⁶, hope¹⁷ to come. For¹⁸ which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. [8] Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?¹⁹ [9] I verily thought with myself, that²⁰ I ought to do many things contrary to the name²¹ of Jesus of Nazareth. [10] Which thing I also²² did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints²³ did I shut up in prison, having²⁴ received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against [them]. [11] And I punished²⁵ them oft in every synagogue, and compelled²⁶ [them] to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad²⁷ against them, I persecuted [them] even unto strange cities. [12] Whereupon as²⁸ I went to Damascus with²⁹ authority and commission from the chief priests, [13] At midday³⁰, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above³¹ 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 speakin³²g unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul³³, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [it is] hard³⁴ for thee to kick against the pricks. [15] And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am³⁵ Jesus whom thou persecutest. [16] But rise³⁶, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make³⁷ thee a minister³⁸ and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the³⁹ which I will appear unto thee; [17] Delivering⁴⁰ thee from the people, and [from] the Gentiles⁴¹, unto whom now I send thee, [18] To open⁴² their eyes, [and] to⁴³ turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from⁴⁴] the power of Satan unto God, that they⁴⁵ may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance⁴⁶ among them which are sanctified⁴⁷ by faith⁴⁸ that is in me. [19] Whereupon, O king⁴⁹ Agrippa, I was not⁵⁰ disobedient unto the heavenly vision: [20] But shewed first⁵¹ unto them of Damascus, and at⁵² Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and [then⁵³] to the Gentiles, that they should repent⁵⁴ and turn⁵⁵ to God, and do⁵⁶ works meet for repentance. [21] For these causes the Jews⁵⁷ caught me in the temple, and went about to kill [me]. [22] Having therefore obtained⁵⁸ help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing⁵⁹ both to small and great, saying none⁶⁰ other things than those which the prophets⁶¹ and Moses did say should come: [23] That Christ⁶² should suffer, [and] that he should be the first⁶³ that should rise from the dead, and should⁶⁴ shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

⥃Festus Interrupts Paul’s Defense

[24] And as he thus spake⁶⁵ for himself, Festus⁶⁶ said with a loud voice, Paul⁶⁷, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. [25] But he said, I am not⁶⁸ mad, most⁶⁹ noble Festus; but speak forth the words⁷⁰ of truth and soberness. [26] For the king⁷¹ 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 thing⁷² was not done in a corner. [27] King Agrippa, believest⁷³ thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. [28] Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost⁷⁴ thou persuadest me to be a Christian. [29] And Paul said, I would⁷⁵ to God, that not⁷⁶ only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except⁷⁷ these bonds. [30] And when he had thus spoken, the king⁷⁸ 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 man⁷⁹ 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 appealed⁸⁰ unto Cesar.