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  • Acts Chapter 26

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Paul speaks to Agrippa

26 King Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You may now say what you think about this problem.’

Paul raised his hand so that people would listen to him. 2 He said, ‘King Agrippa, I am happy that you are here. I ask you to listen to me today. These Jews say that I have done some bad things. I will explain to you what is really true about all these things. 3 You yourself know all about the Jews. You know about how we live. You also know the things that we argue about with each other. So please be patient and listen to me.

4 The Jewish people have known me since I was born. They all know how I have lived among them. They knew me in the region where I was born. When I came to Jerusalem, they also know how I lived there. 5 So they have known me for a long time. They could tell you that I always obeyed our Jewish laws. They know that I was a Pharisee. I carefully obeyed God's Law, as a Pharisee does. But maybe they do not want to tell you all that. 6 So what is the reason that I stand here today for you to judge me? It is because I believe in God's promise to our ancestors. 7 He promised a great thing to our 12 Israelite families. We all expect to receive what God has promised to us. That is why we Jews always worship God, in the day and in the night. Like these Jews here, I believe in God's great promise. But that is the reason that they speak against me. 8 Is it impossible for God to cause dead people to become alive again? You should surely believe me when I say that.

9 I myself wanted to work against Jesus, the man from Nazareth, and against his message. 10 That is what I was doing in Jerusalem. The leaders of the priests gave me authority to put many of the believers in prison. I agreed with our leaders when they said, “These people must die.”

11 I went to our Jewish meeting places to take hold of believers. I told my men to punish them. I tried to make the believers say bad things against God. I was very angry with them. So I even travelled to cities in other countries to punish them.

12 For that reason, one day I was travelling to Damascus. The leaders of the priests in Jerusalem had sent me there. They had given me authority to take hold of the believers there. 13 Listen to this, King Agrippa! I was travelling along the road at midday. Suddenly I saw a very bright light in the sky. It was much brighter than the sun. It shone all round me and also round the men who were with me. 14 All of us fell down to the ground. I heard a voice that spoke to me in my own language, Hebrew. [ a ] He said “Saul, Saul, why do you fight against me? You are like an ox that kicks against its master's stick. So you are hurting yourself.” [ b ]

15 “Lord, who are you?” I asked.

He replied, “I am Jesus. And you are fighting against me. 16 Now you must get up. Stand on your feet. I have chosen you to be my servant. That is why I have appeared to you today. You must tell other people about what you have seen. After that, I will show you other things that you must tell people. 17 I will send you to speak about me to Jews and to Gentiles. Some of them will want to hurt you. But I will keep you safe. 18 You will help them to understand what is really true. They are like people who live in the dark. Teach them what is true about me. Then they will be like people who live in the light. Now Satan has power over them. Lead them from there into God's kingdom. Then God will forgive them for the wrong things that they have done. Because they believe in me, God will accept them as his own people.” ’

Paul tells Agrippa and Bernice about his work for God

19 ‘So you should know this, King Agrippa. I obeyed the things that I heard from heaven that day. 20 First, I taught God's message to the Jews in Damascus. Then I also taught God's message to the Jews in Jerusalem and in all of Judea region. Later I also spoke to the Gentiles. I said to all of them, “You must stop doing wrong things. You must turn to God. You must do good things. That will show that you have really changed how you live.” 21 That is the reason that the Jews took hold of me in the yard of the temple. That is also the reason why they wanted to kill me. 22 But God has helped me every day, even until today. So now I stand here and I can tell you what is true. I say the same thing to people who are very important and to people who are not important. I am telling you the same things that Moses and God's other prophets wrote about. They also said that these things would happen. 23 They said that God's special Messiah would have much pain and he would die. But God would raise him up to be alive again. He would be the first dead person to become alive and not die again. In that way, he would show God's message and bring light to people. He would save both Jewish people and Gentiles. That is what the prophets and Moses wrote. And I say the same thing.’

24 While Paul was still speaking to Agrippa, Festus shouted at him, ‘Paul, your mind is confused! You have learned many things. But all these things are making you crazy.’

25 Paul said, ‘Festus, sir, I am not crazy. Everything that I have said is true. It is not difficult to understand. 26 King Agrippa knows about these things. He understands what I am talking about. None of these things happened in secret places. So I am sure that he has heard news about all this. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe what God's prophets taught? I know that you do believe them.’

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Can you change what I believe in this short time? Should I become a Christian already? Is that what you think?’

29 Paul answered him, ‘It is not important if it takes a long time or a short time. I pray to God for you and for everyone who is listening to me today. I pray that you may all become like me. But I would not want you to become a prisoner like me!’

30 Then King Agrippa, the ruler Festus, and Bernice all got ready to leave. Everyone else there also stood up. 31 After they left the meeting room, they said to each other, ‘This man has not done anything bad. We should not kill him, or even hold him in prison.’

32 King Agrippa said to Festus, ‘We could have let this man go free from the prison. But he has asked that Caesar should judge him. So we cannot let him go free.’

Footnotes

  1. 26:14 Hebrew was the language of the Jews.
  2. 26:14 Jesus used a picture to show Saul what was happening. A farmer made his ox pull a cart for him. He used a sharp stick. It made the ox walk where he wanted it to go. The sharp stick hurt the ox if it went the wrong way. The stick also hurt the ox if it tried to kick it.

Paul Before King Agrippa

26 Agrippa said to Paul, “You may now speak to defend yourself.” Paul raised his hand to get their attention and began to speak. 2 He said, “King Agrippa, I feel fortunate that I can stand here before you today and answer all the charges these Jews have made against me. 3 I am very happy to talk to you, because you know so much about all the Jewish customs and the things the Jews argue about. Please listen to me patiently.

4 “All the Jews know about my whole life. They know the way I lived from the beginning in my own country and later in Jerusalem. 5 These Jews have known me for a long time. If they want to, they can tell you that I was a good Pharisee. And the Pharisees obey the laws of the Jewish religion more carefully than any other group. 6 Now I am on trial because I hope for the promise that God made to our fathers. 7 This is the promise that all the twelve tribes of our people hope to receive. For this hope the Jews serve God day and night. My king, the Jews have accused me because I hope for this same promise. 8 Why do you people think it is impossible for God to raise people from death?

9 “I used to think that I should do everything I could against Jesus from Nazareth. 10 And that’s what I did, beginning in Jerusalem. The leading priests gave me the authority to put many of God’s people in jail. And when they were being killed, I agreed that it was a good thing. 11 I visited all the synagogues and punished them, trying to make them curse [ a ] Jesus. My anger against these people was so strong that I went to other cities to find them and punish them.

Paul Tells About Seeing Jesus

12 “One time the leading priests gave me permission and the authority to go to the city of Damascus. 13 On the way there, at noon, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun. It shined all around me and those traveling with me. 14 We all fell to the ground. Then I heard a voice talking to me in Aramaic. The voice said, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are only hurting yourself by fighting me.’

15 “I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“The Lord said, ‘I am Jesus. I am the one you are persecuting. 16 Stand up! I have chosen you to be my servant. You will tell people about me—what you have seen today and what I will show you. This is why I have come to you. 17 I will keep you safe from your own people and from the non-Jewish people, the ones I am sending you to. 18 You will make them able to understand the truth. They will turn away from darkness to the light. They will turn away from the power of Satan, and they will turn to God. Then their sins can be forgiven, and they can be given a place among God’s people—those who have been made holy by believing in me.’”

Paul Tells About His Work

19 Paul continued speaking: “King Agrippa, after I had this vision from heaven, I obeyed it. 20 I began telling people to change their hearts and lives and turn back to God. And I told them to do what would show that they had really changed. I went first to people in Damascus. Then I went to Jerusalem and to every part of Judea and told the people there. I also went to the non-Jewish people.

21 “This is why the Jews grabbed me and were trying to kill me at the Temple. 22 But God helped me, and he is still helping me today. With God’s help I am standing here today and telling all people what I have seen. But I am saying nothing new. I am saying only what Moses and the prophets said would happen. 23 They said that the Messiah would die and be the first to rise from death. They said that he would bring the light of God’s saving truth [ b ] to the Jewish people and to the non-Jewish people.”

Paul Tries to Persuade Agrippa

24 While Paul was still defending himself, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Too much study has made you crazy.”

25 Paul said, “Most Honorable Festus, I am not crazy. What I am saying is true. It all makes perfect sense. 26 King Agrippa knows about all this, and I can speak freely to him. I know that he has heard about these things, because they happened where everyone could see them. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe what the prophets wrote? I know you believe!”

28 King Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think you can persuade me to become a ‘Christ-follower’ so easily?”

29 Paul said, “It is not important if it is easy or if it is hard. I pray to God that not only you but that everyone listening to me today could be saved and be just like me—except for these chains I have!”

30 King Agrippa, Governor Festus, Bernice, and all the people sitting with them stood up 31 and left the room. They were talking to each other. They said, “This man has done nothing worthy of being put to death or even put in jail.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “We could let him go free, but he has asked to see Caesar.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:11 curse Literally, “blaspheme,” the same as saying they did not believe in Jesus.
  2. Acts 26:23 bring … truth Literally, “proclaim light.”

26 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered 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 because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, unto our fathers:

7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For 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?

9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above 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 speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

26 For the king 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 thing was not done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

30 And when he had thus spoken, the king 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 man 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 appealed unto Caesar.

Paul’s Defense before Agrippa

26 ( A ) Now 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 [ a ] especially because you are an expert in all ( B ) customs and [ b ] questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 “So then, all Jews know ( C ) my way of life since my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and in Jerusalem, 5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a ( D ) Pharisee ( E ) according to the strictest ( F ) sect of our religion. 6 And now I am standing trial ( G ) for the hope of ( H ) the promise made by God to our fathers; 7 the promise ( I ) to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. For this ( J ) hope, O king, I am being ( K ) accused by Jews. 8 Why is it considered incredible among you people ( L ) if God raises the dead?

9 “So ( M ) I thought to myself that I had to act in strong opposition to ( N ) the name of Jesus [ c ] of Nazareth. 10 And this is [ d ] just what I ( O ) did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the [ e ] saints in prisons, after ( P ) receiving authority from the chief priests, but I also ( Q ) cast my vote against them when they were being put to death. 11 And ( R ) as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was ( S ) extremely enraged at them, I kept pursuing them ( T ) even to [ f ] foreign cities.

12 [ g ] While so engaged, ( U ) as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, [ h ] brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who were journeying with me. 14 And when we had ( V ) all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the [ i ] ( W ) Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? [ j ] It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and ( X ) stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to ( Y ) appoint you as a ( Z ) servant and ( AA ) 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, 17 ( AB ) rescuing you ( AC ) from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to ( AD ) open their eyes so that they may turn from ( AE ) darkness to light, and from the [ k ] power of ( AF ) Satan to God, that they may receive ( AG ) forgiveness of sins and an ( AH ) inheritance among those who have been sanctified by ( AI ) faith in Me.’

19 “For that reason, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but continually proclaimed ( AJ ) to those in Damascus first, and ( AK ) in Jerusalem, and then all the region of Judea, and even ( AL ) to the Gentiles, that they are to ( AM ) repent and turn to God, performing deeds ( AN ) consistent with repentance. 21 For these reasons some Jews ( AO ) seized me in the temple and tried ( AP ) to murder me. 22 So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day ( AQ ) testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what ( AR ) the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place, 23 as to ( AS ) whether the [ l ] Christ was [ m ] to suffer, and whether, as ( AT ) first from the resurrection of the dead, He would proclaim ( AU ) light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

24 While [ n ] Paul was stating these things in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! [ o ] Your great ( AV ) learning is [ p ] driving you insane.” 25 But Paul *said, “I am not insane, ( AW ) most excellent Festus; on the contrary, I am speaking out with [ q ] truthful and rational words. 26 For the king [ r ] ( AX ) knows 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 [ s ] corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 Agrippa replied to Paul, “ [ t ] In a short time you are going to persuade me to [ u ] make a ( AY ) Christian of myself .” 29 And Paul said , “I would [ v ] wish to God that even [ w ] in 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 ( AZ ) chains.”

30 ( BA ) The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, 31 and when they had gone out, they began talking to one another, saying, “ ( BB ) This man is not doing anything deserving death or [ x ] imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been ( BC ) set free if he had not ( BD ) appealed to Caesar.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:3 Or because you are especially expert
  2. Acts 26:3 Or controversial issues
  3. Acts 26:9 Or the Nazarene
  4. Acts 26:10 Lit also
  5. Acts 26:10 Lit holy ones ; i.e., God’s people
  6. Acts 26:11 Or outlying
  7. Acts 26:12 Lit In which things
  8. Acts 26:13 Lit above the brightness of
  9. Acts 26:14 I.e., Jewish Aramaic
  10. Acts 26:14 An idiom referring to an animal’s futile resistance to being prodded with a spiked stick
  11. Acts 26:18 Or dominion
  12. Acts 26:23 I.e., Messiah
  13. Acts 26:23 Lit subject to suffering
  14. Acts 26:24 Lit he
  15. Acts 26:24 Lit The many letters ; i.e., education
  16. Acts 26:24 Lit turning you to madness
  17. Acts 26:25 Lit words of truth and rationality
  18. Acts 26:26 Or understands
  19. Acts 26:26 I.e., a hidden or secret place
  20. Acts 26:28 Or With a little
  21. Acts 26:28 Or act as a Christian
  22. Acts 26:29 Or pray to
  23. Acts 26:29 Or with a little or with much
  24. Acts 26:31 Lit bonds

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” ( A )

So Paul motioned with his hand ( B ) and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you ( C ) today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, ( D ) 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs ( E ) and controversies. ( F ) Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, ( G ) from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time ( H ) and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect ( I ) of our religion, living as a Pharisee. ( J ) 6 And now it is because of my hope ( K ) in what God has promised our ancestors ( L ) that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes ( M ) are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. ( N ) King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. ( O ) 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? ( P )

9 “I too was convinced ( Q ) that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose ( R ) the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ( S ) 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people ( T ) in prison, ( U ) and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. ( V ) 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, ( W ) and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice ( X ) saying to me in Aramaic, [ a ] ( Y ) ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. ( Z ) I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. ( AA ) 17 I will rescue you ( AB ) from your own people and from the Gentiles. ( AC ) I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes ( AD ) and turn them from darkness to light, ( AE ) and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins ( AF ) and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ ( AG )

19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient ( AH ) to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, ( AI ) then to those in Jerusalem ( AJ ) and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, ( AK ) I preached that they should repent ( AL ) and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. ( AM ) 21 That is why some Jews seized me ( AN ) in the temple courts and tried to kill me. ( AO ) 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen ( AP ) 23 that the Messiah would suffer ( AQ ) and, as the first to rise from the dead, ( AR ) would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” ( AS )

24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, ( AT ) Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning ( AU ) is driving you insane.”

25 “I am not insane, most excellent ( AV ) Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, ( AW ) and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” ( AX )

29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” ( AY )

30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice ( AZ ) and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” ( BA )

32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free ( BB ) if he had not appealed to Caesar.” ( BC )

Footnotes

  1. Acts 26:14 Or Hebrew