Acts 26:1-18 ▼

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;

17 delivering you from the people and the gentiles, to whom I send you,

18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins, and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'