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the accusations made against him weren’t
any of the crimes I expected. 19 Instead, it was
something about their religion and a dead man
named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive. 20 I was at
a loss to know how to investigate these things,
so I asked him whether he would be willing to
stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem. 21 But
Paul appealed to have his case decided by the
emperor. So I ordered that he be held in custody
until I could arrange to send him to Caesar.”
22 “I’d like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa
said.
And Festus replied, “You will—tomorrow!”
Paul Speaks to Agrippa
23 So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived
at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of
the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in.
24 Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who
are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem. 25 But in my opinion he has done nothing
deserving death. However, since he appealed
his case to the emperor, I have decided to send
him to Rome.
26 “But what shall I write the emperor? For
there is no clear charge against him. So I have
brought him before all of you, and especially
you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him,
I might have something to write. 27 For it makes
no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!”
26
Then 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, 3 for 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. 5 If they would admit it, they know
that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the
strictest sect of our religion. 6 Now I am on trial
because of my hope in the fulfillment of God’s
promise made to our ancestors. 7 In 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! 8 Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?
9 “I used to believe that I ought to do every26:9 Or Jesus of Nazareth. 26:10 Greek many of God’s holy
people. 26:11 Greek to blaspheme. 26:14a Or Hebrew.
26:14b Greek It is hard for you to kick against the oxgoads.
26:28 Or “A little more, and your arguments would make me
a Christian.”
ACTS 26
thing I could to oppose the very name of Jesus
the Nazarene.* 10 Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests,
I caused many believers* there to be sent to
prison. And I cast my vote against them when
they were condemned to death. 11 Many times
I had them punished in the synagogues to get
them to curse Jesus.* 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. 13 About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven
brighter than the sun shone down on me and
my companions. 14 We all fell down, and I heard
a voice saying to me in Aramaic,* ‘Saul, Saul,
why are you persecuting me? It is useless for
you to fight against my will.*’
15 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one
you are persecuting. 16 Now 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. 17 And I will rescue you from both your own
people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you
to the Gentiles 18 to 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. 20 I 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. 21 Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for
preaching this, and they tried to kill me. 22 But
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—23 that
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.”
24 Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are
insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”
25 But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most
Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober
truth. 26 And 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! 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the
prophets? I know you do—”
28 Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think
you can persuade me to become a Christian so
quickly?”*
29 Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray
to God that both you and everyone here in this