Acts of the Apostles 26

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You may now speak on your own behalf." So Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense.	1 Then Agrippa said to Paul: Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching forth his hand, began to make his answer.
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,	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.
3 especially since you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and controversies. And therefore I beg you to listen patiently.	3 Especially as thou knowest all, both customs and questions that are among the Jews: Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of living from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my people and in Jerusalem, all (the) Jews know.	4 And my life indeed from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation in Jerusalem, all the Jews do know:
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.	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.
6 But now I am standing trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors.	6 And now for the hope of the promise that was made by God to the fathers, do I stand subject to judgment:
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.	7 Unto which, our twelve tribes, serving night and day, hope to come. For which hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews.
8 Why is it thought unbelievable among you that God raises the dead?	8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible, that God should raise the dead?
9 I myself once thought that I had to do many things against the name of Jesus the Nazorean,	9 And I indeed did formerly think, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
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.	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.
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.	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.
12 "On one such occasion I was traveling to Damascus with the authorization and commission of the chief priests.	12 Whereupon when I was going to Damascus with authority and permission of the chief priest,
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.	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.
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.'	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.
15 And I said, 'Who are you, sir?' And the Lord replied, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.	15 And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord answered: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
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.	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,
17 I shall deliver you from this people and from the Gentiles to whom I send you,	17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the nations, unto which now I send thee:
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.'	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.
19 "And so, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.	19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not incredulous to the heavenly vision:
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.	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.
21 That is why the Jews seized me (when I was) in the temple and tried to kill me.	21 For this cause the Jews, when I was in the temple, having apprehended me, went about to kill me.
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,	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:
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."	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.
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."	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.
25 But Paul replied, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and reason.	25 And Paul said: I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and soberness.
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.	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.
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe."	27 Believest thou the prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You will soon persuade me to play the Christian."	28 And Agrippa said to Paul: In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian.
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."	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.
30 Then the king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and the others who sat with them.	30 And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them.
31 And after they had withdrawn they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing (at all) that deserves death or imprisonment."	31 And when they were gone aside, they spoke among themselves, saying: This man hath done nothing worthy of death or of bands.
32 And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."	32 And Agrippa said to Festus: This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar.