Acts 26:1-12 ▼

1 And Agrippa was saying to Paul, “It is permitted you to speak for yourself.” Then Paul, having stretched out the hand, began his defense:

2 “Concerning all of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I esteem myself fortunate before you, being about to defend myself today,

3 you being especially acquainted with all the customs and also controversies of the Jews. Therefore I implore you to hear me patiently.

4 Then indeed my manner of life, which is from youth, having been from its beginning among my nation and in Jerusalem, all the Jews know—

5 knowing me from the first, if they would be willing to testify—that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.

6 And now I stand, being judged for the hope of the promise having been made by God to our fathers,

7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, serving in earnestness night and day, the hope concerning which I am accused by the Jews, O king.

8 Why is it judged incredible by you? if God raises the dead?

9 Therefore I indeed in myself thought it to be necessary to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth,

10 which I also did in Jerusalem. And I also locked up many of the saints in prisons, having received the authority from the chief priests; and on their being put to death, I cast against them a vote.

11 And in all the synagogues, punishing them often, I was compelling them to blaspheme. And being exceedingly furious against them, I was persecuting them even as far as to foreign cities,

12 during which, going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,