Agrippa

13A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea. They came to greet Festus.

And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.

NoteAgrippa was a king who ruled a small area for the Romans. Bernice was his sister. They came to be polite to the new governor.

14They stayed for many days. Festus told the king about Paul's case. He said, "Felix, the ruler before me, left a man here in prison."

And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:

15"When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and the Jewish elders told me about him. They wanted me to say he was guilty."

About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.

NoteThe elders were older men who helped lead the Jewish people.

16"I told them that Romans do not do things that way. A man must first face the people who accuse him. He must be allowed to speak for himself."

To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.

17"So they came here with me. I did not wait. The next day I sat in the judge's chair and had the man brought in."

Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.

18"His accusers stood up to speak. But they did not charge him with the crimes I expected."

Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:

19"They only argued with him about their own religion. They argued about a man named Jesus who had died. Paul says that Jesus is alive."

But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

NoteReligion means the way people worship God. Festus was Roman. He did not understand the Jewish way of worship.

20"I did not know how to look into things like this. So I asked Paul if he would go to Jerusalem and be judged there."

And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.

21"But Paul asked to be kept here until the Emperor could decide. So I ordered my men to hold him until I can send him to Caesar."

But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.

NoteThe Emperor was the most powerful ruler of all. Caesar was another name for him. The King James calls him "Augustus," which was a title, like saying "the great one."

22Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." Festus said, "Tomorrow you will hear him."

Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

23The next day Agrippa and Bernice came in with a grand show. They entered the hearing room. Army commanders and important men of the city came too. Festus ordered his men to bring Paul in.

And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth.

NoteThe King James says they came "with great pomp." That means fine clothes, music and crowds, to show how important they were. The army commanders were soldiers in charge of many other soldiers.

24Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all of you here, look at this man. All the Jewish people have come to me about him, both in Jerusalem and here. They shouted that he should not live any longer."

And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.

25"But I found that he had done nothing that deserves death. And he has asked the Emperor to hear his case. So I decided to send him."

But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.

26"I have nothing sure to write to the Emperor about him. That is why I brought him out before you all, and most of all before you, King Agrippa. That way, after we question him, I may have something to write."

Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.

27"It does not make sense to me to send a prisoner without saying what he is charged with."

For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

NoteTo be charged means someone says out loud what wrong you have done. Festus had nothing to write down.

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

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

NoteAgrippa was a king. The Romans let him rule part of the land. Paul was a prisoner. He had to explain to the king why he was not guilty. Lifting your hand was how a speaker showed he was ready to talk.

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

I 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:

NotePaul was on trial. That means important men were deciding if he had done wrong.

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

Especially 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.

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

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

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."

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

NoteA Pharisee was a Jewish man who studied God's rules. Pharisees tried to keep every rule perfectly.

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."

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

Note"Our fathers" means the Jewish people who lived long, long ago. It means grandfathers and great-grandfathers, not just dads.

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."

Unto 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.

NoteThe Jewish people came from twelve brothers. Each brother's family became one of the twelve groups, called tribes.

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

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

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

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

NoteNazareth was the small town where Jesus grew up. People often named a person after his hometown.

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."

Which 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.

NoteThe leading priests were the men in charge at the temple. A priest helped people worship God. Paul says he "voted": he agreed when others said Jesus' followers should die.

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."

And 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.

NoteA synagogue was a building where Jews met to pray and learn. To speak against God means to say rude, insulting things about him.

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

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

NoteDamascus was a big city far to the north. Walking there from Jerusalem took about a week.

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."

At 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.

NoteNoon is the middle of the day. The sun is brightest then, so this light was very bright indeed.

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.'"

And 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.

NoteHebrew was the old language of the Jewish people. Saul was Paul's other name, the one he had first. A farmer used a long pointed stick to guide his oxen. If the animal kicked at the stick, it only hurt itself.

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

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

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. You will also tell them what I will show you later.'"

But 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;

NoteA witness is someone who saw something happen. A witness tells other people what he saw.

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.'"

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

NoteThe Jews called everyone else "Gentiles." It just means people from other nations.

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.'"

To 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.

NoteSatan is God's enemy. To forgive sins means God stops holding your wrong things against you.

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

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

NotePaul saw and heard Jesus while he was wide awake. People called that a vision.

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."

But 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.

NoteJudea was the part of the country around Jerusalem. To turn to God means to be sorry and start living his way.

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

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

NoteThe temple in Jerusalem was a huge, beautiful building. It was the special place where Jews worshiped God.

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."

Having 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:

NoteMoses led the Jewish people long ago. God gave Moses his laws to write down. Prophets were people who told others what God said.

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."

That 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.

Note"Christ" is a title, not a last name. It means the special king God promised to send.

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!"

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

NoteFestus was the governor. Rome put him in charge of that whole area.

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

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

NotePaul calls him "most noble Festus." That was a polite way to speak to a ruler.

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."

For 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.

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

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

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

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

NoteA Christian is someone who follows Jesus. The name was quite new back then.

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."

And 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.

NotePaul was wearing chains because he was a prisoner. He wanted others to know Jesus, but not to be locked up.

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

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

NoteBernice was King Agrippa's sister. She lived with him and went where he went.

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

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

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

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

NoteCaesar was the emperor, the top ruler of Rome. Any Roman citizen could ask Caesar to judge his case. Once Paul asked, no one else was allowed to let him go.