Acts 26:1-16 ▼

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

3 especially since you are very knowledgeable about all the Jewish customs and controversies. 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.

5 They 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.

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

7 the 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.

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

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

10 I 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.

11 In 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.

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

13 King 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.

14 We 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.’

15 “I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord? ’ “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.

16 But 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.