Acts of the Apostles 26

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul: Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching forth his hand, began to make his answer.	1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You have leave to speak on your own behalf.' And Paul held up his handand began his defence:
2 I think myself happy, O king Agrippa, that I am to answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews.	2 'I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, in that it is before you I am to answer today all the chargesmade against me by the Jews,
3 Especially as thou knowest all, both customs and questions that are among the Jews: Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.	3 the more so because you are an expert in matters of custom and controversy among the Jews. So Ibeg you to listen to me patiently.
4 And my life indeed from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation in Jerusalem, all the Jews do know:	4 'My manner of life from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and inJerusalem, is common knowledge among the Jews.
5 Having known me from the beginning (if they will give testimony) that according to the most sure sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.	5 They have known me for a long time and could testify, if they would, that I fol owed the strictest party inour religion and lived as a Pharisee.
6 And now for the hope of the promise that was made by God to the fathers, do I stand subject to judgment:	6 And now it is for my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors that I am on trial,
7 Unto which, our twelve tribes, serving night and day, hope to come. For which hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews.	7 the promise that our twelve tribes, constant in worship night and day, hope to attain. For that hope,Your Majesty, I am actual y put on trial by Jews!
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible, that God should raise the dead?	8 Why does it seem incredible to you that God should raise the dead?
9 And I indeed did formerly think, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.	9 'As for me, I once thought it was my duty to use every means to oppose the name of Jesus theNazarene.
10 Which also I did at Jerusalem, and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority of the chief priests: and when they were put to death, I brought the sentence.	10 This I did in Jerusalem; I myself threw many of God's holy people into prison, acting on authority fromthe chief priests, and when they were being sentenced to death I cast my vote against them.
11 And oftentimes punishing them, in every synagogue, I compelled them to blaspheme: and being yet more mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.	11 I often went round the synagogues inflicting penalties, trying in this way to force them to renouncetheir faith; my fury against them was so extreme that I even pursued them into foreign cities.
12 Whereupon when I was going to Damascus with authority and permission of the chief priest,	12 'On such an expedition I was going to Damascus, armed with ful powers and a commission from thechief 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 them that were in company with me.	13 and in the middle of the day as I was on my way, Your Majesty, I saw a light from heaven shiningmore bril iantly than the sun round me and my fel ow-travellers.
14 And when we were all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.	14 We all fel to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, "Saul, Saul, why are youpersecuting me? It is hard for you, kicking against the goad.
15 And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord answered: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.	15 Then I said, "Who are you, Lord?" And the Lord answered, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
16 But rise up, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared to thee, that I may make thee a minister, and a witness of those things which thou hast seen, and of those things wherein I will appear to thee,	16 But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason: to appoint you as myservant and as witness of this vision in which you have seen me, and of others in which I shal appear to you.
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the nations, unto which now I send thee:	17 I shal rescue you from the people and from the nations to whom I send you
18 To open their eyes, that they may be converted from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and a lot among the saints, by the faith that is in me.	18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, from the dominion of Satan to God,and receive, through faith in me, forgiveness of their sins and a share in the inheritance of the sanctified."
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not incredulous to the heavenly vision:	19 'After that, King Agrippa, I could not disobey the heavenly vision.
20 But to them first that are at Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and unto all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles did I preach, that they should do penance, and turn to God, doing works worthy of penance.	20 On the contrary I started preaching, first to the people of Damascus, then to those of Jerusalem andal Judaean territory, and also to the gentiles, urging them to repent and turn to God, proving their change ofheart by their deeds.
21 For this cause the Jews, when I was in the temple, having apprehended me, went about to kill me.	21 This was why the Jews laid hands on me in the Temple and tried to do away with me.
22 But being aided by the help of God, I stand unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other thing than those which the prophets, and Moses did say should come to pass:	22 But I was blessed with God's help, and so I have stood firm to this day, testifying to great and smalalike, saying nothing more than what the prophets and Moses himself said would happen:
23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light to the people, and to the Gentiles.	23 that the Christ was to suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he was to proclaim a light forour people and for the gentiles.'
24 As he spoke these things, and made his answer, Festus said with a loud voice: Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad.	24 He had reached this point in his defence when Festus shouted out, 'Paul, you are out of your mind; althat learning of yours is driving you mad.'
25 And Paul said: I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and soberness.	25 But Paul answered, 'Festus, your Excel ency, I am not mad: I am speaking words of sober truth andgood sense.
26 For the king knoweth of these things, to whom also I speak with confidence. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him. For neither was any of these things done in a corner.	26 The king understands these matters, and to him I now speak fearlessly. I am confident that nothing ofal this comes as a surprise to him; after al , these things were not done in a corner.
27 Believest thou the prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that thou believest.	27 King Agrippa, do you believe in the prophets? I know you do.'
28 And Agrippa said to Paul: In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian.	28 At this Agrippa said to Paul, 'A little more, and your arguments would make a Christian of me.'
29 And Paul said: I would to God, that both in a little and in much, not only thou, but also all that hear me, this day, should become such as I also am, except these bands.	29 Paul replied, 'Little or much, I wish before God that not only you but al who are listening to me todaywould come to be as I am -- except for these chains.'
30 And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them.	30 At this the king rose to his feet, with the governor and Bernice and those who sat there with them.
31 And when they were gone aside, they spoke among themselves, saying: This man hath done nothing worthy of death or of bands.	31 When they had retired they talked together and agreed, 'This man is doing nothing that deservesdeath or imprisonment.'
32 And Agrippa said to Festus: This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar.	32 And Agrippa remarked to Festus, 'The man could have been set free if he had not appealed toCaesar.'