Acts 26:1-12 ▼

1 Agrippa (Herod Agrippa II) said to Paul (humble), “You have permission to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:

2 “King Agrippa (Herod Agrippa II), I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews (people of praise),

3 especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.

4 Surely all the Jews (people of praise) know how I have lived from my earliest childhood among my own people {ethnei}, and also in Jerusalem (city of peace).

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

6 And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God {Theou} made to our fathers {pateras},

7 the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews (people of praise).

8 Why would any of you⁺ consider it incredible that God {Theos} raises the dead?

9 So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus (YHWH saves) of Nazareth (branch).

10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem (city of peace). With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints (holy ones) in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.

11 I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

12 In this pursuit I was on my way to Damascus (well-watered land) with the authority and commission of the chief priests.