Acts 26
Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa
So aAgrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:
2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today aagainst all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the acustoms and bcontroversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 a“My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among bmy own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that aaccording to the strictest bparty of our creligion I have lived as da Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in athe promise made by God to our fathers, 7 ato which bour twelve tribes hope to cattain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope dI am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought aincredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
9 a“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of bJesus of Nazareth. 10 aAnd I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority bfrom the chief priests, but cwhen they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And aI punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them bblaspheme, and cin raging fury against them I dpersecuted them even to foreign cities.
Paul Tells of His Conversion
12 “In this connection aI journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me ain 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 are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and astand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, bto appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 adelivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—bto whom I cam sending you 18 ato open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from bthe power of Satan to God, that they may receive cforgiveness of sins and da place among those who are sanctified eby faith in me.’
19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to athe heavenly vision, 20 but declared first ato those in Damascus, bthen in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also cto the Gentiles, that they should drepent and eturn to God, performing deeds fin keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason athe Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 aTo this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so bI stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what cthe prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 athat the Christ bmust suffer and that, cby being the first dto rise from the dead, ehe would proclaim flight both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, ayou are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, amost excellent Festus, but I am speaking btrue and crational words. 26 For athe king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, 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 short time would you persuade me to be aa Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day amight become such as I am—except for bthese chains.”
30 Then the king rose, and athe governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, a“This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, a“This man could have been set bfree if he had not appealed cto Caesar.”
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.