25
Acts

Paul's Defense Before Agrippa

Acts 25:23-26:32
23Therefore on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with much pageantry and entered the hall together with the military officers and the prominent men of the city. After Festus had given the order, Paul was brought in. 24Festus said, 'King Agrippa and all the men present with us, look at this man concerning whom the whole multitude of the Jews appealed to me both in Jerusalem and here, crying out that he ought not to live any longer.' 25But I found that he had done nothing worthy of death. When this man appealed, I decided to send him. 26I have nothing definite to write about him. Therefore I have brought him before you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation I may have something to write. 27For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without also indicating the charges against him.
Chapter 26
1Agrippa then said to Paul, 'You are permitted to speak for yourself.' So Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense. 2Concerning all the accusations the Jews bring against me, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today. 3Especially because you are expert in all the customs and questions among the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. 4All the Jews know my manner of life from my youth onward, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and in Jerusalem. 5They have known me for a long time and, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee. 6And now I stand on trial because of the hope in the promise made by God to our fathers. 7It is the promise our twelve tribes earnestly hope to attain as they worship night and day. It is for this hope, King, that I am accused by the Jews. 8Why is it considered unbelievable among you that God raises the dead? 9I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10And this is what I did in Jerusalem. I locked up many of the saints in prisons after receiving authority from the chief priests, and when they were condemned to death I cast my vote against them. 11In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to force them to blaspheme. Being furiously enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. 12In this pursuit I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13At midday, O king, as I was on the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who were journeying with me. 14When we had all fallen to the ground 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.' 15I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.' 16But rise and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to 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. 17I will deliver you from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you. 18To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. 19Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20But first to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and throughout the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds consistent with repentance. 21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass. 23That the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles. 24While Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, 'Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you insane.' 25Paul replied, 'I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.' 26For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe. 28Agrippa said to Paul, 'In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?' 29Paul replied, 'Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.' 30Then the king rose, and with him Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31After they had withdrawn they talked with one another, saying, 'This man is doing nothing deserving death or imprisonment.' 32Agrippa said to Festus, 'This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.'
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