Acts 26:12-32 ▼

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.'

19 Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision;

20 but I declared both to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem, and through all the region of Judea, and to the gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

21 On account of these things, Jews, seizing me in the temple, were attempting to kill me.

22 Having, therefore, obtained help from God, I have stood to this day, testifying both to small and great, saying nothing, except those things which both the prophets and Moses said would come to pass;

23 that the Christ was destined to suffer; that He, first out of a resurrection of the dead, is destined to declare light both to the people and to the gentiles."

24 And, as he was saying these things in defense, Festus says with a loud voice, "Paul, you are mad! your much learning is turning you mad!"

25 But Paul says, "I am not mad, most noble Festus; but I utter words of truth and soberness.

26 For the king knows well concerning these things, to whom also I speak boldly; for I am persuaded that no one of these things is hidden from him; for this has not been done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe."

28 And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a small degree you are persuading me to make a Christian!"

29 And Paul said, "I could pray God, that, both in a small degree and in a great degree , not only you, but also all who hear me this day, may become such as I am, except these chains!"

30 And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and those who sat with them;

31 and, having withdrawn, they were talking one to another, saying, "This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds."

32 And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set at liberty, had he not appealed to Caesar."