Acts 26

1And Agrippa said to Paul, It is permitted thee to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching out his hand answered in his defence:

1And Agrippa said unto Paul, `It is permitted to thee to speak for thyself;' then Paul having stretched forth the hand, was making a defence:

2I count myself happy, king Agrippa, in having to answer to-day before thee concerning all of which I am accused by the Jews,

2`Concerning all things of which I am accused by Jews, king Agrippa, I have thought myself happy, being about to make a defence before thee to-day,

3especially because thou art acquainted with all the customs and questions which are among the Jews; wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

3especially knowing thee to be acquainted with all things--both customs and questions--among Jews; wherefore, I beseech thee, patiently to hear me.

4My manner of life then from my youth, which from its commencement was passed among my nation in Jerusalem, know all the Jews,

4`The manner of my life then, indeed, from youth--which from the beginning was among my nation, in Jerusalem--know do all the Jews,

5who knew me before from the outset [of my life], if they would bear witness, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

5knowing me before from the first, (if they may be willing to testify,) that after the most exact sect of our worship, I lived a Pharisee;

6And now I stand to be judged because of the hope of the promise made byGod to our fathers,

6and now for the hope of the promise made to the fathers by God, I have stood judged,

7to which our whole twelve tribes serving incessantly day and night hope to arrive; about which hope, O king, I am accused of [the] Jews.

7to which our twelve tribes, intently night and day serving, do hope to come, concerning which hope I am accused, king Agrippa, by the Jews;

8Why should it be judged a thing incredible in your sight ifGod raises the dead?

8why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?

9I indeed myself thought that I ought to do much against the name of Jesus the Nazaraean.

9`I, indeed, therefore, thought with myself, that against the name of Jesus of Nazareth it behoved <FI>me<Fi> many things to do,

10Which also I did in Jerusalem, and myself shut up in prisons many of the saints, having received the authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death I gave my vote.

10which also I did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I in prison did shut up, from the chief priests having received the authority; they also being put to death, I gave my vote against them,

11And often punishing them in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme. And, being exceedingly furious against them, I persecuted them even to cities out [of our own land].

11and in every synagogue, often punishing them, I was constraining <FI>them<Fi> to speak evil, being also exceedingly mad against them, I was also persecuting <FI>them<Fi> even unto strange cities.

12And when, [engaged] in this, I was journeying to Damascus, with authority and power from the chief priests,

12`In which things, also, going on to Damascus--with authority and commission from the chief priests--

13at mid-day, on the way, I saw, O king, a light above the brightness of the sun, shining from heaven round about me and those who were journeying with me.

13at mid-day, I saw in the way, O king, out of heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me a light--and those going on with me;

14And, when we were all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [it is] hard for thee to kick against goads.

14and we all having fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute? hard for thee against pricks to kick!

15And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:

15`And I said, Who art thou, Lord? and he said, I am Jesus whom thou dost persecute;

16but rise up and stand on thy feet; for, for this purpose have I appeared to thee, to appoint thee to be a servant and a witness both of what thou hast seen, and of what I shall appear to thee in,

16but rise, and stand upon thy feet, for for this I appeared to thee, to appoint thee an officer and a witness both of the things thou didst see, and of the things <FI>in which<Fi> I will appear to thee,

17taking thee out from among the people, and the nations, to whom I send thee,

17delivering thee from the people, and the nations, to whom now I send thee,

18to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan toGod, that they may receive remission of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.

18to open their eyes, to turn <FI>them<Fi> from darkness to light, and <FI>from<Fi> the authority of the Adversary unto God, for their receiving forgiveness of sins, and a lot among those having been sanctified, by faith that <FI>is<Fi> toward me.

19Whereupon, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision;

19`Whereupon, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

20but have, first to those both in Damascus and Jerusalem, and to all the region of Judaea, and to the nations, announced that they should repent and turn toGod, doing works worthy of repentance.

20but to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem, to all the region also of Judea, and to the nations, I was preaching to reform, and to turn back unto God, doing works worthy of reformation;

21On account of these things the Jews, having seized me in the temple, attempted to lay hands on and destroy me.

21because of these things the Jews--having caught me in the temple--were endeavouring to kill <FI>me<Fi> .

22Having therefore met with [the] help which is fromGod, I have stood firm unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing else than those things which both the prophets and Moses have said should happen,

22`Having obtained, therefore, help from God, till this day, I have stood witnessing both to small and to great, saying nothing besides the things that both the prophets and Moses spake of as about to come,

23[namely,] whether Christ should suffer; whether he first, through resurrection of [the] dead, should announce light both to the people and to the nations.

23that the Christ is to suffer, whether first by a rising from the dead, he is about to proclaim light to the people and to the nations.'

24And as he answered for his defence with these things, Festus says with a loud voice, Thou art mad, Paul; much learning turns thee to madness.

24And, he thus making a defence, Festus with a loud voice said, `Thou art mad, Paul; much learning doth turn thee mad;'

25But Paul said, I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but utter words of truth and soberness;

25and he saith, `I am not mad, most noble Festus, but of truth and soberness the sayings I speak forth;

26for the king is informed about these things, to whom also I speak with all freedom. For I am persuaded that of these things nothing is hidden from him; for this was not done in a corner.

26for the king doth know concerning these things, before whom also I speak boldly, for none of these things, I am persuaded, are hidden from him; for this thing hath not been done in a corner;

27King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

27thou dost believe, king Agrippa, the prophets? I have known that thou dost believe!'

28And Agrippa [said] to Paul, In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian.

28And Agrippa said unto Paul, `In a little thou dost persuade me to become a Christian!'

29And Paul [said], I would toGod, both in little and in much, that not only thou, but all who have heard me this day, should become such as I also am, except these bonds.

29and Paul said, `I would have wished to God, both in a little, and in much, not only thee, but also all those hearing me to-day, to become such as I also am--except these bonds.'

30And the king stood up, and the governor and Bernice, and those who sat with them,

30And, he having spoken these things, the king rose up, and the governor, Bernice also, and those sitting with them,

31and having gone apart, they spoke to one another saying, This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

31and having withdrawn, they were speaking unto one another, saying--`This man doth nothing worthy of death or of bonds;'

32And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been let go if he had not appealed to Caesar.

32and Agrippa said to Festus, `This man might have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.'