4 “So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; 5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. 6 And now I amcstanding trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; 7 the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews. 8 Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead? | |
9 “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And this isdjust what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of theesaints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even tofforeign cities. | |
12 “gWhile so engaged 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,hbrighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in theiHebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?jIt 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 stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you havekseen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ | |
19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. 21 For this reason some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to put me to death. 22 So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; 23 lthatmthe Christ wasnto suffer, andothat by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” | |
24 While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind!pYour great learning isqdriving you mad.” 25 But Paul *said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter wordsrof sober truth. 26 For the kingsknows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in atcorner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that youudo.” 28 Agrippa replied to Paul, “vIn a short time youwwill persuade me toxbecome a Christian.” 29 And Paul said, “yI would wish to God, that whetherzin a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.” | |
30 The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, 31 and when they had gone aside, they began talking to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything worthy of death oraaimprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” |
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