Acts 26
26
Paul’s Defense before Agrippa
1Now Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul extended his hand and proceeded to make his defense:
2“Regarding all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, 3#26:3 Or because you are especially expertespecially because you are an expert in all customs and #26:3 Or controversial issuesquestions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4“So then, all Jews know my way of life since my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and in Jerusalem, 5since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. 6And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; 7the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. For this hope, O king, I am being accused by Jews. 8Why is it considered incredible among you people if God raises the dead?
9“So I thought to myself that I had to act in strong opposition to the name of Jesus #26:9 Or the Nazareneof Nazareth. 10And this is #26:10 Lit alsojust what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the #26:10 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s peoplesaints in prisons, after receiving authority from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being put to death. 11And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was extremely enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to #26:11 Or outlyingforeign cities.
12“#26:12 Lit In which thingsWhile so engaged, as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, #26:13 Lit above the brightness ofbrighter than the sun, shining around me and those who were journeying with me. 14And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the #26:14 I.e., Jewish AramaicHebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? #26:14 An idiom referring to an animal’s futile resistance to being prodded with a spiked stickIt is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you as a servant and a witness not only to the things in which you have seen Me, but also to the things in which I will appear to you, 17rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the #26:18 Or dominionpower of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
19“For that reason, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but continually proclaimed to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem, and then all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they are to repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance. 21For these reasons some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to murder me. 22So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place, 23as to whether the #26:23 I.e., MessiahChrist was #26:23 Lit subject to sufferingto suffer, and whether, as first from the resurrection of the dead, He would proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
24While #26:24 Lit hePaul was stating these things in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! #26:24 Lit The many letters; i.e., educationYour great learning is #26:24 Lit turning you to madnessdriving you insane.” 25But Paul *said, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; on the contrary, I am speaking out with #26:25 Lit words of truth and rationalitytruthful and rational words. 26For the king #26:26 Or understandsknows about these matters, and I also speak to him with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a #26:26 I.e., a hidden or secret placecorner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe.” 28Agrippa replied to Paul, “#26:28 Or With a littleIn a short time you are going to persuade me to #26:28 Or act as a Christianmake a Christian of myself.” 29And Paul said, “I would #26:29 Or pray towish to God that even #26:29 Or with a little or with muchin a short or long time not only you, but also all who hear me this day would become such as I myself am, except for these chains.”
30The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, 31and when they had gone out, they began talking to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything deserving death or #26:31 Lit bondsimprisonment.” 32And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
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Acts 26: NASB2020
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Acts of the Apostles 26
26
1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.”
So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: 2“I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, 3for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!
4“As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion. 6Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God’s promise made to our ancestors. 7In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel zealously worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope! 8Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?
9“I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene.#26:9 Or Jesus of Nazareth. 10Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers#26:10 Greek many of God’s holy people. there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. 11Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus.#26:11 Greek to blaspheme. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.
12“One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. 13About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. 14We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,#26:14a Or Hebrew. ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.#26:14b Greek It is hard for you to kick against the oxgoads.’
15“‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. 17And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’
19“And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. 20I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. 21Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me. 22But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike.”
24Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”
25But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. 26And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—”
28Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”#26:28 Or “A little more, and your arguments would make me a Christian.”
29Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”
30Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. 31As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything to deserve death or imprisonment.”
32And Agrippa said to Festus, “He could have been set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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