Acts 26:1-16 ▼

1 And Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak in your own behalf." Then Paul, stretching forth his hand, was making his defense:

2 "I deem myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am about this day to make my defense before you, concerning all things of which I am being accused by Jews;

3 especially since you are an expert in all matters relating to Jews, both in customs and questions. Wherefore, I beseech you to hear me patiently.

4 My manner of life, therefore, from my youth, which from the first was among my own nation and at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

5 having known me from the beginning, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

6 And now, for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, I have taken my stand to be judged;

7 unto which promise our twelve-tribed nation , earnestly serving day and night, is hoping to attain; concerning which hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews.

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

9 I, verily, therefore, imagined to myself that it was proper that I should do many things contrary to the name of Jesus, the Nazarene;

10 which also I did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints also did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the high priests; and, when they were being put to death, I have given a vote against them ;

11 and, punishing them often throughout all the synagogues, I was compelling them to blaspheme; and, being exceedingly enraged against them, I was persecuting them even unto foreign cities.

12 Meanwhile as I was journeying to Damascus, with authority and a commission from the high priests,

13 at midday, O King, I saw, in the way, a light from Heaven above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and those journeying with me.

14 And, we all having fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'

15 And I said, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting.

16 But arise, and stand upon your feet; for I appeared to you for this end, to appoint you a minister and a witness both of the things in which you saw Me, and of the things in which I will appear to you;