Acts 26

1 Then Agrippa said to Paul: Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching forth his hand, began to make his answer.

And Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defence:

2 I think myself happy, O king Agrippa, that I am to answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews.

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defence before thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews:

3 Especially as thou knowest all, both customs and questions that are among the Jews: Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

especially because thou art expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4 And my life indeed from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation in Jerusalem, all the Jews do know:

My manner of life then from my youth up, which was from the beginning among mine own nation and at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

5 Having known me from the beginning (if they will give testimony) that according to the most sure sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

having knowledge of me from the first, if they be willing to testify, that after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

6 And now for the hope of the promise that was made by God to the fathers, do I stand subject to judgment:

And now I stand [here] to be judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers;

7 Unto which, our twelve tribes, serving night and day, hope to come. For which hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews.

unto which [promise] our twelve tribes, earnestly serving [God] night and day, hope to attain. And concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O king!

8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible, that God should raise the dead?

Why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?

9 And I indeed did formerly think, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

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

10 Which also I did at Jerusalem, and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority of the chief priests: and when they were put to death, I brought the sentence.

And this I also did in Jerusalem: and I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.

11 And oftentimes punishing them, in every synagogue, I compelled them to blaspheme: and being yet more mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.

And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.

12 Whereupon when I was going to Damascus with authority and permission of the chief priest,

Whereupon as I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of 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 that were in company with me.

at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them that journeyed with me.

14 And when we were all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.

And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying unto me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the goad.

15 And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord answered: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

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

16 But rise up, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared to thee, that I may make thee a minister, and a witness of those things which thou hast seen, and of those things wherein I will appear to thee,

But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the nations, unto which now I send thee:

delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, that they may be converted from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and a lot among the saints, by the faith that is in me.

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

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not incredulous to the heavenly vision:

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

20 But to them first that are at Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and unto all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles did I preach, that they should do penance, and turn to God, doing works worthy of penance.

but declared both to them of Damascus first, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judæa, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

21 For this cause the Jews, when I was in the temple, having apprehended me, went about to kill me.

For this cause the Jews seized me in the temple, and assayed to kill me.

22 But being aided by the help of God, I stand unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other thing than those which the prophets, and Moses did say should come to pass:

Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand unto this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what 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 to the people, and to the Gentiles.

how that the Christ must suffer, [and] how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.

24 As he spoke these things, and made his answer, Festus said with a loud voice: Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad.

And as he thus made his defence, Festus saith with a loud voice, Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning is turning thee mad.

25 And Paul said: I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and soberness.

But Paul saith, I am not mad, most excellent Festus; but speak forth words of truth and soberness.

26 For the king knoweth of these things, to whom also I speak with confidence. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him. For neither was any of these things done in a corner.

For the king knoweth of these things, unto whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him; for this hath not been done in a corner.

27 Believest thou the prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that thou believest.

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

28 And Agrippa said to Paul: In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian.

And Agrippa [said] unto Paul, With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian.

29 And Paul said: I would to God, that both in a little and in much, not only thou, but also all that hear me, this day, should become such as I also am, except these bands.

And Paul [said], I would to God, that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds.

30 And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them.

And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

31 And when they were gone aside, they spoke among themselves, saying: This man hath done nothing worthy of death or of bands.

and when they had withdrawn, they spake one to another, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

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

And Agrippa said unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.