Acts 26:1-16 ▼

1 And Agrippa said to Paul, It is permitted thee to speak for thyself. Then Paul defended himself, having stretched out the hand:

2 Concerning all of which I am accused by the Jews, king Agrippa, I deem myself happy, being about to defend myself to thee this day:

3 Especially thee being judge of all the customs among the Jews, and also of the questions: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4 Therefore truly my manner of life from youth, having been from the beginning in my nation in Jerusalem, all the Jews know:

5 Knowing me beforehand, from a former period, if they would testify, that according to the most strict sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.

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

7 To which our twelve tribes, serving night and day, hope to arrive. For which hope I am accused, king Agrippa, by the Jews.

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

9 I therefore truly thought to myself, I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus, the Nazarite.

10 Which I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the holy ones I shut up in prison, having received authority from chief priests; and they taken up, I carried down a vote.

11 And in all the synagogues, many times punishing them, I compelled to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I drove out even also to cities without.

12 In which also going to Damascus with authority, and superintendence from the chief priests,

13 The middle of day, I saw in the way, O king, a light from heaven, above the brilliancy of the sun, having shone around me, and those going with me.

14 And we having all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why drivest thou me out? hard for thee to kick against goads.

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou drivest out.

16 But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for, for this was I sent to thee, to take thee in hand, a servant and witness both of what things thou sawest, and of what I shall be seen to thee;