Acts of the Apostles 26

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	BIBBIA RICCIOTTI
1 Yet truly, Agrippa said to Paul, “It is permitted for you to speak for yourself.” Then Paul, extending his hand, began to offer his defense.	1 - E Agrippa disse a Paolo: «Puoi parlare in tua difesa». Allora Paolo, stesa la mano, cominciò in tal modo a difendersi:
2 “I consider myself blessed, O king Agrippa, that I am to give my defense today before you, about everything of which I am accused by the Jews,	2 «Re Agrippa, io ho la fortuna di potermi oggi difendere davanti a te di tutte le accuse che mi fanno i Giudei,
3 especially since you know everything that pertains to the Jews, both customs and questions. Because of this, I beg you to listen to me patiently.	3 specialmente perchè tu hai conoscenza de' riti e delle quistioni che s'agitano tra i Giudei; perciò ti prego d'ascoltarmi con pazienza.
4 And certainly, all the Jews know about my life from my youth, which had its beginning among my own people in Jerusalem.	4 Qual vita io abbia menata fin dalla giovinezza in seno alla mia nazione a Gerusalemme, tutti i Giudei lo sanno:
5 They knew me well from the beginning, (if they would be willing to offer testimony) for I lived according to the most determined sect of our religion: as a Pharisee.	5 conoscono da gran tempo, se pur vogliono renderne testimonianza, ch'io son vissuto a principio da Fariseo, secondo la più rigida setta della nostra religione.
6 And now, it is in the hope of the Promise which was made by God to our fathers that I stand subject to judgment.	6 E ora sto sottoposto a giudizio per la speranza che ho nella promessa fatta da Dio a' nostri padri;
7 It is the Promise that our twelve tribes, worshiping night and day, hope to see. About this hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews.	7 della quale le nostre dodici tribù, servendo a Dio giorno e notte, aspettano il compimento. Per questa speranza, o re, sono accusato da' Giudei!
8 Why should it be judged so unbelievable with you all that God might raise the dead?	8 E sembra a voi incredibile che Dio risusciti i morti?
9 And certainly, I myself formerly considered that I ought to act in many ways which are contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarene.	9 Io pure credetti di oppormi di viva forza al nome di Gesù il Nazareno;
10 This is also how I acted at Jerusalem. And so, I enclosed many holy persons in prison, having received authority from the leaders of the priests. And when they were to be killed, I brought the sentence.	10 e lo feci in Gerusalemme, dove, avutone il potere da' capi dei sacerdoti, chiusi nelle prigioni molti santi; e quando eran messi a morte, diedi il mio voto.
11 And in every synagogue, frequently while punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme. And being all the more maddened against them, I persecuted them, even to foreign cities.	11 Spesso, per tutte le sinagoghe, a forza di castighi li costrinsi a bestemmiare; e, sempre più infuriando contro di loro, li perseguitai fin nelle città straniere.
12 Thereafter, as I was going to Damascus, with authority and permission from the high priest,	12 Mentre a tale scopo mi recavo a Damasco con potere e per commissione de' capi dei sacerdoti,
13 at midday, O king, I and those who were also with me, saw along the way a light from heaven shining around me with a splendor greater than that of the sun.	13 di mezzo giorno, lungo la strada, io vidi, o re, una luce più splendente del sole, la quale dal cielo lampeggiò intorno a me e a quelli che eran meco.
14 And when we had all fallen down to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.’	14 Cademmo tutti per terra, e io udii una voce dirmi in lingua ebraica: - Saulo, Saulo, perchè mi perseguiti? Ti è duro ricalcitrar contro lo stimolo. -
15 Then I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.	15 E io dissi: - Chi sei, Signore? - E il Signore rispose: - Io son Gesù che tu perseguiti.
16 But rise up and stand on your feet. For I appeared to you for this reason: so that I may establish you as a minister and a witness concerning the things that you have seen, and concerning the things that I will show to you:	16 Ma lèvati e sta' in piedi; poichè ti sono apparso per questo, per costituirti ministro e testimone delle cose che hai vedute, e di quelle per le quali ti apparirò,
17 rescuing you from the people and the nations to which I am now sending you,	17 traendoti fuori da questo popolo e da' Gentili ai quali ora ti mando
18 in order to open their eyes, so that they may be converted from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive the remission of sins and a place among the saints, through the faith that is in me.’	18 ad aprir loro gli occhi, che si convertano dalle tenebre alla luce e dalla potestà di Satana a Dio, e ottengano, per la fede in me, la remissione de' peccati e l'eredità tra i santi.-
19 From then on, O king Agrippa, I was not unbelieving to the heavenly vision.	19 Perciò, o re Agrippa, io non fui disubbidiente alla celeste visione;
20 But I preached, first to those who are at Damascus and at Jerusalem, and then to the entire region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, so that they would repent and convert to God, doing the works that are worthy of repentance.	20 e prima a que' di Damasco, poi a Gerusalemme e per tutta la Giudea e a' Gentili ho predicato che si pentano e si convertano a Dio, facendo degne opere di penitenza.
21 It was for this reason that the Jews, having apprehended me when I was in the temple, attempted to kill me.	21 Per tutto questo i Giudei m'han preso nel tempio, e hanno tentato d'uccidermi.
22 But having been aided by the help of God, even to this day, I stand witnessing to the small and the great, saying nothing beyond what the Prophets and Moses have said would be in the future:	22 Ma, confortato dall'aiuto di Dio, l'ho durata sino ad oggi, rendendo la mia testimonianza davanti a piccoli e a grandi, senz'aggiungere nulla a quello che i Profeti e Mosè, han detto dover succedere:
23 that the Christ would suffer, and that he would be the first from the resurrection of the dead, and that he would bring light to the people and to the nations.”	23 che il Cristo patirebbe, e che, essendo lui il primo a risuscitare da' morti, annunzierebbe la luce al suo popolo e a' Gentili».
24 While he was speaking these things and presenting his defense, Festus said with a loud voice: “Paul, you are insane! Too much studying has turned you to insanity.”	24 Mentre Paolo così parlava in sua difesa, Festo esclamò ad alta voce: «Paolo, tu farnetichi; la molta dottrina ti fa dare in pazzia».
25 And Paul said: “I am not insane, most excellent Festus, but rather I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.	25 Ma Paolo rispose: «Io non farnetico, eccellentissimo Festo; le mie parole son di verità e di buon senno.
26 For the king knows about these things. To him also, I am speaking with constancy. For I think that none of these things are unknown to him. And neither were these things done in a corner.	26 Il re conosce queste cose, e io gliene parlo francamente, persuaso che nulla ignora di tutto questo; poichè non son cose fatte di nascosto.
27 Do you believe the Prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that you believe.”	27 Re Agrippa, credi tu ai Profeti? Io so che ci credi».
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “To some extent, you persuade me to become a Christian.”	28 E Agrippa, disse a Paolo: «Poco manca che tu non mi fai diventar cristiano!».
29 And Paul said, “I hope to God that, both to a small extent and to a great extent, not only you, but also all those who hear me this day will become just as I also am, except for these chains.”	29 E Paolo: «Manchi poco o molto, desidero da Dio che non solo tu, ma quanti oggi mi ascoltano, diventiate tali quale son io, salvo queste catene».
30 And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them.	30 Allora il re, il governatore, Berenice, con tutto il loro seguito, si alzarono;
31 And when they had withdrawn, they were speaking among themselves, saying, “This man has done nothing worthy of death, nor of imprisonment.”	31 e, ritiratisi in disparte, dicevano tra loro: «Quest'uomo non ha fatto nulla che meriti morte o prigione».
32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released, if he had not appealed to Caesar.”	32 E Agrippa disse a Festo: «Quest'uomo poteva esser messo in libertà, se non si fosse appellato a Cesare».