Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:

1So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

2"I consider myself fortunate, that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,

2“I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,

3especially since you are very knowledgeable about all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

3especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4"All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem.

4“My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews.

5They have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.

5They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.

6And now I stand on trial because of the hope in what God promised to our ancestors,

6And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,

7the promise our twelve tribes hope to reach as they earnestly serve him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope.

7to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!

8Why do any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

8Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

9In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

9“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I was in agreement against them.

10And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.

11In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them blaspheme. Since I was terribly enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.

11And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

12"I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests.

12“In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.

13King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me.

13At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.

14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'

14And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

15"I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' "And the Lord replied: 'I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.

15And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

16But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.

16But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,

17I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them

17delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you

18to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

19"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

19“Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

20Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance.

20but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and were trying to kill me.

21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

22To this very day, I have had help from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing other than what the prophets and Moses said would take place--

22To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:

23that the Messiah must suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles."

23that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

24As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, "You're out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad."

24And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”

25But Paul replied, "I'm not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I'm speaking words of truth and good judgment.

25But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.

26For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak boldly to him. For I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice, since this was not done in a corner.

26For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.

27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe."

27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”

28Agrippa said to Paul, "Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?"

28And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”

29"I wish before God," replied Paul, "that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am--except for these chains."

29And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

30The king, the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them got up,

30Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.

31and when they had left they talked with each other and said, "This man is not doing anything to deserve death or imprisonment."

31And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.”

32Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."

32And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.