Acts 26

1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

Then 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 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:

“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,

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.

especially since yoʋ are acquainted with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg yoʋ to listen to 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;

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

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

They 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.

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

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

7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving Elohim day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

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

8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that YHWH should raise the dead?

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

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

“Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against 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.

And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. I 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.

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.

I 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.

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

“While engaged in such things, I was on my way 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.

when 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.

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.

When 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.’

15 And I said, Who art thou, Master? And he said, I am Yahushua whom thou persecutest.

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

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;

But 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 yoʋ have seen and to the things in which I will appear to yoʋ.

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

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

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

to open their eyes so 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.’

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

“Consequently, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to 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 YHWH, and do works meet for repentance.

but first to those in Damascus and then 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.

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

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

22 Having therefore obtained help of YHWH, 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:

But 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:

23 That the Messiah 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.

that the Christ would suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our 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.

As 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!”

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Paul 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.”

30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

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

31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

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

32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

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