Hechos de los Apóstoles 26

EL LIBRO DEL PUEBLO DE DIOS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Agripa dijo a Pablo: «Estás autorizado a defenderte». Entonces Pablo, extendiendo la mano, comenzó su defensa, diciendo:	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.
2 «Rey Agripa, me considero dichoso de tener que defenderme hoy, delante de ti, de las acusaciones que me hacen los judíos,	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,
3 porque tú conoces todas las costumbres y controversias de los judíos. Por eso te ruego que me escuches con paciencia.	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.
4 Todos los judíos saben cómo he vivido desde los primeros días de mi juventud, en medio de mi pueblo y en la misma Jerusalén.	4 And certainly, all the Jews know about my life from my youth, which had its beginning among my own people in Jerusalem.
5 Ellos me conocen desde hace mucho tiempo y si quieren, pueden atestiguar que he vivido como fariseo, es decir, siguiendo la secta más rígida de nuestra religión.	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.
6 Y si ahora soy sometido a juicio, es por mi esperanza en la promesa hecha por Dios a nuestros padres,	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.
7 la promesa que nuestras doce tribus esperan ver cumplida, sirviendo a Dios fervientemente día y noche. Acusa de esta esperanza, rey Agripa, soy acusado por los judíos.	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.
8 ¿Por qué les parece increíble que Dios resucite a los muertos?	8 Why should it be judged so unbelievable with you all that God might raise the dead?
9 Yo, por mi parte, consideraba que debía combatir por todos los medios el nombre de Jesús de Nazaret.	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.
10 Así lo hice en Jerusalén: yo mismo encarcelé a un gran número de santos con la autorización de los sumos sacerdotes, y cuando se los condenaba a muerte, mi voto era favorable.	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.
11 Recorría frecuentemente las sinagogas, y los castigaba para obligarlos a renegar de su fe. Lleno de rabia contra ellos, los perseguía hasta en las ciudades extranjeras.	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.
12 Una vez, cuando me dirigía a Damasco con plenos poderes y con la orden de los sumos sacerdotes,	12 Thereafter, as I was going to Damascus, with authority and permission from the high priest,
13 en el camino, hacia el mediodía, vi una luz más brillante que el sol, que venía del cielo y me envolvía a mí y a los que me acompañaban.	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.
14 Todos caímos en tierra, y yo oí una voz que me decía en hebreo: «Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues? Te lastimas al dar coces contra el aguijón».	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.’
15 Yo respondí: «¿Quién eres, Señor?». Y me dijo: «Soy Jesús, a quien tú persigues.	15 Then I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
16 Levántate y permanece de pie, porque me he aparecido a ti para hacerte ministro y testigo de las cosas que has visto y de aquellas en que yo me manifestaré a ti.	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:
17 Te libraré de los judíos y de las naciones paganas. A ellas te envío	17 rescuing you from the people and the nations to which I am now sending you,
18 para que les abras los ojos, y se conviertan de las tinieblas a la luz y del imperio de Satanás al verdadero Dios, y por la fe en mí, obtengan el perdón de los pecados y su parte en la herencia de los santos».	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.’
19 Desde ese momento, rey Agripa, nunca fui infiel a esa visión celestial.	19 From then on, O king Agrippa, I was not unbelieving to the heavenly vision.
20 Por el contrario, dirigiéndome primero a los habitantes de Damasco, luego a los de Jerusalén y de todo el país de Judea, y finalmente a los paganos, les prediqué que era necesario arrepentirse y convertirse a Dios, manifestando su conversión con obras.	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.
21 Por todo esto, los judíos me detuvieron en el Templo y trataron de matarme.	21 It was for this reason that the Jews, having apprehended me when I was in the temple, attempted to kill me.
22 Pero con la protección de Dios, he podido hasta el día de hoy seguir dando testimonio ante los pequeños y los grandes. Y nunca dije nada fuera de lo que los Profetas y Moisés anunciaron que iba a suceder,	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:
23 es decir, que el Mesías debía sufrir y que, siendo el primero en resucitar de entre los muertos, anunciaría la luz a nuestro pueblo y a los paganos».	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.”
24 Cuando Pablo llegó a este punto de su defensa, Festo dijo en voz alta: «Estás loco, Pablo; tu excesivo estudio te ha hecho perder la cabeza».	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.”
25 A lo que Pablo respondió: «No estoy loco, excelentísimo Festo, sino que digo la verdad y hablo con sensatez.	25 And Paul said: “I am not insane, most excellent Festus, but rather I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.
26 El rey está al corriente de todas estas cosas, por eso me dirijo a él con toda confianza: no creo que ignore nada de esto, porque no son cosas que sucedieron en un lugar oculto.	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.
27 ¿Crees en los profetas, rey Agripa? Yo sé que crees en ellos».	27 Do you believe the Prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that you believe.”
28 Agripa contestó a Pablo: «¡Un poco más, y me convences que me haga cristiano!».	28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “To some extent, you persuade me to become a Christian.”
29 «No importa que se necesite poco o mucho para lograrlo, dijo Pablo. ¡Quiera Dios que no sólo tú, sino todos los que me escuchan hoy, lleguen a ser como yo..., pero sin estas cadenas!».	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.”
30 Entonces el rey se levantó, lo mismo que el gobernador, Berenice y los que estaban con ellos.	30 And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them.
31 Al retirarse, comentaban entre sí: «Este hombre no ha hecho nada que merezca la muerte o la prisión».	31 And when they had withdrawn, they were speaking among themselves, saying, “This man has done nothing worthy of death, nor of imprisonment.”
32 Y Agripa dijo a Festo: «Podría ser dejado en libertad, si él mismo hubiera apelado al Emperador».	32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released, if he had not appealed to Caesar.”