Acts 26 NKJV NIV Parallel

◄ Acts 26 ►

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1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:

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

2“I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews,

2"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews,

3especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

3and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4“My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.

4"The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem.

5They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

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

6And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.

6And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today.

7To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

7This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me.

8Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?

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

9“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

9"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

10And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord's people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

11And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

11Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

12“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

12"On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.

13at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.

13About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.

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

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

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

15"Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' " 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied.

16But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

16Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.

17I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,

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

18to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

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

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

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

20but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

20First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.

21For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

21That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.

22Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—

22But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen--

23that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

23that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles."

24Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

24At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."

25But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.

25"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable.

26For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.

26The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.

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

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

28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"

29And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

29Paul replied, "Short time or long--I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."

30When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them;

30The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them.

31and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”

31After they left the room, they began saying to one another, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."

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

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

New International Version (NIV)

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