Acts 26:1-16 ▼

1 Agrippa said to Paul, “It is permitted for you to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: “

2 I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that today I am going to make a defense before you about everything I am accused of by the Jews,

3 especially since you are an expert in 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 nation and in Jerusalem.

5 They had previously known me for quite some time, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.

6 And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,

7 the promise our 12 tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve Him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope.

8 Why is it considered incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

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

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 cast my vote against them.

11 In all the synagogues I often tried to make them blaspheme by punishing them. I even pursued them to foreign cities since I was greatly enraged at them.”

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 the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’”

15 Then I said, ‘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 of what I will reveal to you.