Acts 26:1-11 ▼

1 And Agrippa said to Paul, It is permitted to thee to speak for thyself. Then Paul reaching forth his hand, proceeded with his defence:

2 O king Agrippa, I consider myself happy, being about this day to make my defence before thee concerning all those things of which I am accused by the Jews:

3 especially as thou art acquainted with all the customs and questions among the Jews: therefore I pray you to hear me patiently.

4 Moreover indeed all the Jews know my life from my youth; being from the beginning in my nation and in Jerusalem,

5 knowing me originally, if they may be willing to testify, that according to the most rigid sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

6 And now for the hope of the promise which is from God to our fathers, I stand being judged:

7 unto which our twelve tribes constantly worshiping night and day, hope to attain: concerning which hope I am accused by the Jews, O king.

8 Why is it judged by you incredible, if God shall raise the dead?

9 Moreover indeed, I thought to myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarene:

10 which I did also in Jerusalem, and shut up many of the saints in prison; and having received authority from the chief priests, and they being slain, I gave my vote against them;

11 and throughout all the synagogues, frequently punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceeding mad against them, I was persecuting them even also unto foreign cities.