Acts 26

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

1King Agrippa said to Paul, "You may speak for yourself." Paul lifted his hand and began to speak.

2I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

2"King Agrippa, I am glad to stand before you today. Some Jewish leaders say I have done wrong. Now I can answer them in front of you."

3Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

3"You know all about Jewish customs and the things Jews argue about. So please listen to me patiently."

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

4"All the Jews know how I have lived since I was a boy. I grew up among my own people in Jerusalem."

5Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

5"They have known me a long time. They can tell you, if they are willing, that I was a Pharisee. Pharisees kept the rules of our religion in the strictest way."

6And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

6"I am on trial today because of a hope I hold. It is hope in a promise God made to our fathers long ago."

7Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

7"Our twelve family groups serve God day and night. They hope to see that promise come true. King, that same hope is why the Jews accuse me."

8Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

8"Why do you think it is impossible for God to raise dead people back to life?"

9I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

9"I once was sure I should fight against the name of Jesus of Nazareth."

10Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

10"That is what I did in Jerusalem. The leading priests gave me power to do it. I put many of God's people in prison. When they were put to death, I voted against them."

11And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

11"Many times I had them punished in the synagogues, the places where Jews met to worship. I tried to make them speak against God. I was so angry that I chased them into faraway cities."

12Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

12"That is why I was going to the city of Damascus. The leading priests had given me power to do this."

13At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

13"At noon, O king, I was on the road. I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun. It shone all around me and the men with me."

14And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

14"We all fell to the ground. I heard a voice speak to me in the Hebrew language. It said, 'Saul, Saul, why do you hurt me? It hurts you to kick against the sharp stick.'"

NoteSaul was Paul's other name, the one he used earlier in his life. A goad, which the old wording calls a "prick," was a sharp stick farmers used to make an ox move. An ox that kicked at it only hurt itself.

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

15"I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said, 'I am Jesus. I am the one you are hurting.'"

16But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

16"'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have shown myself to you for a reason. I am making you my worker and my witness. You will tell others what you have seen. I will show you more things later.'"

17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

17"'I will keep you safe from your own people. I will keep you safe from people who are not Jews. I am sending you to them.'"

18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

18"'You will open their eyes. They will turn from darkness to light. They will turn from Satan's power to God. Then God will forgive their sins. They will share what God gives his holy people, because they trust me.'"

19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

19"So, King Agrippa, I obeyed what I saw from heaven."

20But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

20"I spoke first to people in Damascus, then in Jerusalem, then all around Judea. Then I spoke to people who are not Jews. I told them to be sorry for their sins and turn to God. I told them to live in a way that shows they really changed."

21For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

21"That is why some Jews grabbed me at the temple and tried to kill me."

22Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

22"God has helped me, so I am still here today. I tell everyone, important people and ordinary people. I say only what Moses and the prophets said would happen. The prophets were men who told people what God said."

23That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

23"They said the Christ, the king God promised, would suffer. He would be the first to rise from the dead. Then he would bring light to our people and to people who are not Jews."

24And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

24While Paul was saying this, Festus shouted at him. Festus was the Roman governor. He said, "Paul, you are out of your mind! All your studying has made you crazy!"

25But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

25Paul said, "I am not crazy, honored Festus. What I am saying is true and sensible."

26For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

26"The king knows about these things. That is why I can speak openly to him. I am sure he has heard all of it. None of this happened in secret."

27King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

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

28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

28Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think you can make me a Christian so quickly?"

NoteThe old wording says, "Almost you persuade me." That makes it sound like Agrippa nearly agreed. The older Greek is closer to "in such a short time." He is asking about how fast Paul expects to change his mind.

29And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

29Paul said, "Quickly or slowly, I ask God for this. I wish you and everyone listening today could be like me. But I would not wish these chains on you."

30And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:

30Then the king stood up. The governor stood up too, and Bernice, and everyone sitting with them.

31And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

31As they walked out, they talked to each other. They said, "This man has done nothing that deserves death or prison."

32Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

32Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have gone free. But he asked Caesar, the ruler of Rome, to judge his case."