Paul's Defense Before Agrippa

1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Yoʋ have permission to speak for yoʋrself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and began to make his defense:

2“I consider myself fortunate that it is before yoʋ, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense today concerning all the things of which I am being accused by the Jews,

3especially since ³³⁶yoʋ are acquainted with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg yoʋ to listen to me patiently.

4“All the Jews know about my manner of life from my youth up, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation ³³⁷in Jerusalem.

5They have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.

6And now I am standing trial because of my hope in the promise God made to our fathers,

7a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve him night and day. Regarding this hope, ³³⁸King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews.

8Why is it deemed unbelievable by you that God raises the dead?

9“Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. ³³⁹I locked up many of the saints in prison by the authority I received from the chief priests, and when they were being put to death, I cast my vote against them.

11I also punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to force them to blaspheme. And being furiously enraged against them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.

Paul Tells of His Conversion and Commission

12“While engaged in such things, I was on my way to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

13when at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who were traveling with me.

14When we had all fallen down to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are yoʋ persecuting me? It is hard for yoʋ to kick against the goads.’

15I said, ‘Who are yoʋ, Lord?’ ³⁴⁰He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom yoʋ are persecuting.

16But rise and stand on yoʋr feet, for I have appeared to yoʋ for this purpose, to appoint yoʋ as a servant and witness to the things ³⁴¹yoʋ have seen and to the things in which I will appear to yoʋ.

17I will rescue yoʋ from yoʋr own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I ³⁴²am sending yoʋ

18to open their eyes ³⁴³so that they may turn away from darkness to light, and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an allotment among those who have been sanctified by faith in me.’

Paul Tells of His Preaching to Jews and Gentiles

19“Consequently, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

20but first to those in Damascus and ³⁴⁴then to those in Jerusalem, to all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, I proclaimed that they should repent and turn to God, doing works consistent with repentance.

21That is why ³⁴⁵the Jews seized me ³⁴⁶in the temple courts and were trying to kill me.

22But having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what the Prophets and Moses said would take place:

23that the Christ would suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light ³⁴⁷to our people and to the Gentiles.”

24As Paul was saying these things in his own defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Yoʋ are out of yoʋr mind, Paul. Too much learning is driving yoʋ insane!”

25But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking words of truth and good sense.

26For the king knows about these things, to whom I am speaking boldly. I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice ³⁴⁸at all, for this has not been done in a corner.

27Do yoʋ believe the Prophets, King Agrippa? I know that yoʋ believe.”

28Agrippa said to Paul, “Do yoʋ think yoʋ can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”

29Paul said, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only yoʋ but also all who are listening to me today would become as I am, except for these chains.”

30³⁴⁹After Paul said these things, the king stood up, along with the governor, Bernice, and those who were sitting with them.

31After leaving the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is doing ³⁵⁰nothing that deserves death or imprisonment.”

32And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”