Acts of the Apostles 26

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:	1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You may now speak on your own behalf." So Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense.
2 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:	2 "I count myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am to defend myself before you today against all the charges made against me by the Jews,
3 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.	3 especially since you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and controversies. And therefore I beg you to listen patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;	4 My manner of living from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my people and in Jerusalem, all (the) Jews know.
5 Which 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 about me from the start, if they are willing to testify, that I have lived my life as a Pharisee, the strictest party of our religion.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:	6 But now I am standing trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors.
7 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.	7 Our twelve tribes hope to attain to that promise as they fervently worship God day and night; and on account of this hope I am accused by Jews, O king.
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?	8 Why is it thought unbelievable among you that God raises the dead?
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.	9 I myself once thought that I had to do many things against the name of Jesus the Nazorean,
10 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.	10 and I did so in Jerusalem. I imprisoned many of the holy ones with the authorization I received from the chief priests, and when they were to be put to death I cast my vote against them.
11 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.	11 Many times, in synagogue after synagogue, I punished them in an attempt to force them to blaspheme; I was so enraged against them that I pursued them even to foreign cities.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,	12 "On one such occasion I was traveling to Damascus with the authorization 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 which journeyed with me.	13 At midday, along the way, O king, I saw a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my traveling companions.
14 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.	14 We all fell to the ground and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.'
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.	15 And I said, 'Who are you, sir?' And the Lord replied, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
16 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;	16 Get up now, and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness of what you have seen (of me) and what you will be shown.
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,	17 I shall deliver you from this people and from the Gentiles to whom I send you,
18 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.	18 to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may obtain forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been consecrated by faith in me.'
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:	19 "And so, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
20 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.	20 On the contrary, first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem and throughout the whole country of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached the need to repent and turn to God, and to do works giving evidence of repentance.
21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.	21 That is why the Jews seized me (when I was) in the temple and tried to kill me.
22 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:	22 But I have enjoyed God's help to this very day, and so I stand here testifying to small and great alike, saying nothing different from what the prophets and Moses foretold,
23 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.	23 that the Messiah must suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."
24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.	24 While Paul was so speaking in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "You are mad, Paul; much learning is driving you mad."
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.	25 But Paul replied, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and reason.
26 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.	26 The king knows about these matters and to him I speak boldly, for I cannot believe that (any) of this has escaped his notice; this was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.	27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe."
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.	28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You will soon persuade me to play the Christian."
29 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.	29 Paul replied, "I would pray to God that sooner or later not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am except for these chains."
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:	30 Then the king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and the others who sat with them.
31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.	31 And after they had withdrawn they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing (at all) that deserves death or imprisonment."
32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.	32 And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."