 26:1  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak
for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered
for himself:
 26:2  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:
 26:3  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.
 26:4  My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first
among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
 26:5  Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify,
that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a
Pharisee.
 26:6  And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the
promise made of God unto our fathers:
 26:7  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.
 26:8  Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you,
that God should raise the dead?
 26:9  I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many
things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
 26:10  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].
 26:11  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.
 26:12  Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and
commission from the chief priests,
 26:13  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.
 26:14  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.
 26:15  And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus
whom thou persecutest.
 26:16  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;
 26:17  Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the
Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
 26:18  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.
 26:19  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto
the heavenly vision:
 26:20  But showed 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.
 26:21  For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and
went about to kill [me].
 26:22  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:
 26:23  That Christ should suffer, [and] that he should be the
first that should rise from the dead, and should show light
unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
 26:24  And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a
loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth
make thee mad.
 26:25  But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak
forth the words of truth and soberness.
 26:26  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.
 26:27  King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that
thou believest.
 26:28  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me
to be a Christian.
 26:29  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.
 26:30  And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the
governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
 26:31  And when they were gone aside, they talked between
themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or
of bonds.
 26:32  Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been
set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.
