Acts 26

Acts Chapter 26 KJV

1Paul in the presence of Agrippa declareth his life from his childhood, his wonderful conversion, and call to the apostleship, and his preaching of Christ according to the scripture doctrine. 24Festus chargeth him with madness; his modest reply, and address to Agrippa, who confesseth himself almost a Christian. 30The whole company pronounce him innocent.
1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, 1Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul 2stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
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:
3 1Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to 2hear me patiently.
4 1My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, 2know all the Jews;
5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that 1after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged 1for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
7 Unto which promise our 1twelve tribes, instantly serving God aday and night, 2hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
8 1Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
9 1I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 1Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the 2saints did I shut up in prison, having 3received authority from the chief priests; and 4when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and 1being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12 1Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 1At 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.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in 1the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 1But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, 2to 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;
17 1Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 1To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and 2from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive 3forgiveness of sins, and 4inheritance among them which are 5sanctified by faith that is in me.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, 1I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 1But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and 2throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, 3that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
21 For these causes 1the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
22 Having therefore 1obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, 2witnessing both to small and great, saying 3none other things than those which 4the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23 1That Christ should suffer, and that he should be 2the first that should rise from the dead, and should 3shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
24 And as he thus spake for himself, 1Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For 1the 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.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou 1the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, 1Almost thou persuadest me to be a 2Christian.
29 And Paul said, 1I 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 2bonds.
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and 1Bernice, and they that sat with them:
31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man 1doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, 1This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not 2appealed unto Caesar.
Acts 26