Acts

Paul’s Speech

Agrippa said to Paul:

“You may speak in your own defense.”

So Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:

“King Agrippa, you have just heard about the accusations from the Jews. I consider myself fortunate to have this chance to defend myself before you today;

for you are an expert in Jewish customs and disputes. Therefore, I ask you to listen to me patiently.

All the Jews know how I have lived since my youth, how I have lived among my own people and in Jerusalem.

They have known me all along, and they can tell you, if they wish, that I have lived as a Pharisee in the most strict sect of our religion.

If I am now on trial here, it is because of the hope I have in the promise made by God to our ancestors.

The hope of reaching this promise fuels the fervent worship that our twelve tribes offer to God night and day. Yet now, O king, the Jews accuse me of this hope!

But why is it so hard to believe that God raises the dead?

I myself initially thought I had to do everything possible to oppose the Name of Jesus of Nazareth.

This I did in Jerusalem; and with the approval of the chief priests, I imprisoned many believers; and I cast my vote when they were condemned to death.

I went from synagogue to synagogue, increasing punishments against them to try to make them abandon their faith; my anger was so fierce that I persecuted them even in foreign cities.

With this goal in mind, I went to Damascus with full authority and permission from the chief priests.

On the way, O king, around midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, which dazzled me and those with me.

We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Hebrew: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It’s useless to fight against my will.’

I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Now get up and stand on your feet! I have appeared to you to make you my servant and witness of what you have seen and will see.

I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you.

For you shall open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God; so they may receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Since then, King Agrippa, I have not strayed from this heavenly vision;

but I began preaching first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout Judea; and also to the Gentiles, urging them to turn from their sins and be turned to God, demonstrating their repentance by the good works they do.

I was doing these things when the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. But by God’s help, I stand here today to testify to both great and small.

I tell you nothing other than what Moses and the prophets announced beforehand:

the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in doing so, he would proclaim light to his people and to all nations.”

As Paul reached this point in his defense, Festus interrupted loudly, saying:

“Paul, you are crazy; your great learning has deranged your mind!”

But Paul replied:

“I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus, but I have said is reliable and true.

The king knows about these things, and I am confident he understands. I am convinced that he knows about this case, because it didn’t happen in a dark corner.

King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

Agrippa said to him:

“Are you trying to persuade me to become a Christian!”

Paul replied:

“I wish that all who are listening to me, including you, might become as I am—except for these chains.”

Then the king rose, and with him the governor, Bernice, and all the attendants.

When they left, they talked privately and said:

“This man has done nothing deserving death or imprisonment.”

And Agrippa said to Festus:

“He could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”