ACT 26
26
Paul's Apologia Before King Agrippa
1 Agrippa addressed Paul: "You have permission to speak in your own defence." Paul extended his hand and began:
2 "King Agrippa, I consider it most fortunate that I am able to present my defence today before you concerning all the accusations the Jewish leaders have brought against me,
3 particularly because you possess expert knowledge of all Jewish customs and theological controversies. Therefore I ask that you listen to me with patience.
4 All the Jewish people are familiar with my manner of life from my earliest youth, lived among my own people and in Jerusalem.
5 They have known me for years and could testify, if they were willing, that I lived according to the strictest faction of our religion as a Pharisee.
6 Now I stand trial because of my confident hope in God's promise to our fathers.
7 This is the very promise our twelve tribes hope to see fulfilled as they worship God earnestly day and night. It is because of this hope, Your Majesty, that I am being accused by my fellow Jews.
8 Why should any of you consider it unbelievable that God raises people from death?
9 I myself was once convinced that I should actively oppose everything connected with Jesus of Nazareth.
10 That is exactly what I did in Jerusalem. Armed with authorisation from the chief priests, I imprisoned many believers, and when they were executed, I voted in favour of their deaths.
11 I frequently had them punished in synagogues throughout the region, attempting to force them to blaspheme. My rage against them was so intense that I even pursued them to foreign cities.
12 On one such mission, I was travelling to Damascus with full authorisation and commission from the chief priests.
13 Around midday, Your Majesty, while on the road I witnessed a light from heaven, more brilliant than the sun itself, blazing around both me and my travelling companions.
14 We all collapsed to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Hebrew: 'Saul, Saul, why do you persist in persecuting Me?'
15 I asked, 'Who are You, Lord?' The Lord answered, 'I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting.
16 Now stand up. I have appeared to you to appoint you as My servant and witness, both concerning what you have seen today and what I will reveal to you in the future.
17 I will protect you from your own people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you.
18 Your mission is to open their eyes, turning them from darkness to light and from Satan's dominion to God, so they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been made holy through faith in Me.'
19 Therefore, King Agrippa, I did not disobey this heavenly vision.
20 Instead, I proclaimed first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout Judea, and finally to the Gentiles, urging them to repent, turn to God, and demonstrate their repentance through their actions.
21 This is why the Jewish leaders seized me in the temple courts and attempted to murder me.
22 But God has protected me to this very day, enabling me to stand here testifying to people of every social level. I proclaim nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses predicted would occur:
23 that the Christ would suffer, and that as the first to rise from death, He would proclaim light to both our people and to the Gentile nations."
24 While Paul was presenting this defence, Festus interrupted loudly, "Paul, you have lost your mind! Your extensive education has driven you to insanity!"
25 Paul responded, "I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. Rather, I am speaking words that are both true and rational.
26 The king understands these matters, which is why I speak so freely before him. I am convinced that none of these events has escaped his attention, since they did not occur in some hidden corner.
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I am certain that you do."
28 Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you imagine that in such a brief time you can persuade me to become a Christian?"
29 Paul answered, "Whether it takes a short time or a long time, I pray to God that not only you but everyone hearing me today would become what I am—except, of course, for these chains."
30 The king stood up, along with the governor, Bernice, and all those seated with them.
31 As they withdrew, they discussed among themselves, "This man is doing nothing that deserves either death or imprisonment."
32 Agrippa remarked to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."
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ACT 26: AFINT
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
ACT 26
26
Paul's Apologia Before King Agrippa
1 Agrippa addressed Paul: "You have permission to speak in your own defence." Paul extended his hand and began:
2 "King Agrippa, I consider it most fortunate that I am able to present my defence today before you concerning all the accusations the Jewish leaders have brought against me,
3 particularly because you possess expert knowledge of all Jewish customs and theological controversies. Therefore I ask that you listen to me with patience.
4 All the Jewish people are familiar with my manner of life from my earliest youth, lived among my own people and in Jerusalem.
5 They have known me for years and could testify, if they were willing, that I lived according to the strictest faction of our religion as a Pharisee.
6 Now I stand trial because of my confident hope in God's promise to our fathers.
7 This is the very promise our twelve tribes hope to see fulfilled as they worship God earnestly day and night. It is because of this hope, Your Majesty, that I am being accused by my fellow Jews.
8 Why should any of you consider it unbelievable that God raises people from death?
9 I myself was once convinced that I should actively oppose everything connected with Jesus of Nazareth.
10 That is exactly what I did in Jerusalem. Armed with authorisation from the chief priests, I imprisoned many believers, and when they were executed, I voted in favour of their deaths.
11 I frequently had them punished in synagogues throughout the region, attempting to force them to blaspheme. My rage against them was so intense that I even pursued them to foreign cities.
12 On one such mission, I was travelling to Damascus with full authorisation and commission from the chief priests.
13 Around midday, Your Majesty, while on the road I witnessed a light from heaven, more brilliant than the sun itself, blazing around both me and my travelling companions.
14 We all collapsed to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Hebrew: 'Saul, Saul, why do you persist in persecuting Me?'
15 I asked, 'Who are You, Lord?' The Lord answered, 'I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting.
16 Now stand up. I have appeared to you to appoint you as My servant and witness, both concerning what you have seen today and what I will reveal to you in the future.
17 I will protect you from your own people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you.
18 Your mission is to open their eyes, turning them from darkness to light and from Satan's dominion to God, so they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been made holy through faith in Me.'
19 Therefore, King Agrippa, I did not disobey this heavenly vision.
20 Instead, I proclaimed first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout Judea, and finally to the Gentiles, urging them to repent, turn to God, and demonstrate their repentance through their actions.
21 This is why the Jewish leaders seized me in the temple courts and attempted to murder me.
22 But God has protected me to this very day, enabling me to stand here testifying to people of every social level. I proclaim nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses predicted would occur:
23 that the Christ would suffer, and that as the first to rise from death, He would proclaim light to both our people and to the Gentile nations."
24 While Paul was presenting this defence, Festus interrupted loudly, "Paul, you have lost your mind! Your extensive education has driven you to insanity!"
25 Paul responded, "I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. Rather, I am speaking words that are both true and rational.
26 The king understands these matters, which is why I speak so freely before him. I am convinced that none of these events has escaped his attention, since they did not occur in some hidden corner.
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I am certain that you do."
28 Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you imagine that in such a brief time you can persuade me to become a Christian?"
29 Paul answered, "Whether it takes a short time or a long time, I pray to God that not only you but everyone hearing me today would become what I am—except, of course, for these chains."
30 The king stood up, along with the governor, Bernice, and all those seated with them.
31 As they withdrew, they discussed among themselves, "This man is doing nothing that deserves either death or imprisonment."
32 Agrippa remarked to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).