Acts of the Apostles 26

DOUAI-RHEIMS	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
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 Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:
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 think myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of 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 because you are especially familiar with all customs and controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg 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, spent from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem, is known by all 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 for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have 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 I stand here on trial for hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,
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 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible, that God should raise the dead?	8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises 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 "I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
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 And I did so in Jerusalem; I not only shut up many of the saints in prison, by authority from the chief priests, but when they were put 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 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme; and in raging fury against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
12 Whereupon when I was going to Damascus with authority and permission of the chief priest,	12 "Thus I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief 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 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round me and those who journeyed with me.
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 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.'
15 And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord answered: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.	15 And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, '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 rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the nations, unto which now I send thee:	17 delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles--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, 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.'
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not incredulous to the heavenly vision:	19 "Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to 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 but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance.
21 For this cause the Jews, when I was in the temple, having apprehended me, went about to kill me.	21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill 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 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:
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 must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to the people and to 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 And as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are mad; your great learning is turning you mad."
25 And Paul said: I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and soberness.	25 But Paul said, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth.
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 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner.
27 Believest thou the prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that thou believest.	27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe."
28 And Agrippa said to Paul: In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian.	28 And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time you think to make me a Christian!"
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 And Paul said, "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."
30 And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them.	30 Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting 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 and when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing to deserve death 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 said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."