- Agrippa said to - Paul , “ You have permission to speak for yourself. ” Then - Paul stretched out (his) hand (and) began his defense :
“ King Agrippa , I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all vvv the accusations of (the) Jews ,
especially (since) you are acquainted with all the vvv Jewish customs and - controversies. I beg (you) , therefore , to listen to me patiently.
Surely ... all the Jews know vvv vvv how I have lived - - from (the) earliest days - of (my) youth , among my own ... people and in Jerusalem.
They have known me for a long time (and) can testify , if they are willing , that I lived as a Pharisee , adhering to the strictest sect of our - religion.
And now I stand on trial because of (my) hope in the promise (that) - - God made to our - fathers ,
( the promise ) - our - twelve tribes are hoping to realize as they earnestly serve ( God ) ... ... day and night. (It is) because of (this) hope , O king , (that) I am accused by the Jews.
Why {would} - any of you consider it incredible that - God raises (the) dead ?
So then ... , I (too) was convinced that I ought to do all (I could) to oppose - the name of Jesus - of Nazareth.
And (that) is what I did in Jerusalem. With - authority from the chief priests - - I put many of the saints in prison , and (when) they were condemned to death , I cast my vote against (them) ....
vvv vvv I frequently had them punished - in - the synagogues , (and) I tried to make (them) blaspheme. - In my raging fury ... against them , {I} even (went) to foreign - cities to persecute (them).
In this (pursuit) I was on my way to - Damascus with (the) authority and commission of the chief priests.
About noon ... , O king , (as I was) on the road , I saw a light from heaven ... , - brighter than the sun , shining around me and my companions ... ... ....
- We all fell to the ground , (and) I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew ... , ‘ Saul , Saul , why do you persecute Me ? (It is) hard for you to kick against (the) goads. ’
‘ Who are You , Lord ? ’ - I asked. ‘ I am Jesus , whom you are persecuting , ’ - the Lord replied.
‘ But get up and stand on your - feet. For I have appeared to you to vvv appoint you as a servant and as a witness - of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you.
I will rescue you from (your own) people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to (them)
to open their eyes , so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power - of Satan to - God , (that) they may receive forgiveness of sins and (an) inheritance among those sanctified by faith - in Me. ’
So then , King Agrippa , I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
- - First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem , then to everyone in the region - of Jude -a , and then to the Gentiles , I declared that they should repent and turn to - God , performing deeds worthy (of their) repentance.
For this reason ... the Jews seized me - in the temple (courts) (and) tried to kill (me).
(But) I have had vvv vvv God’s help - to this - day , (and) I stand (here) to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what - the prophets and Moses said would happen :
that the Christ would suffer , (and as the) first to rise from (the) dead , would proclaim light - to our people and to the Gentiles. ”
At this stage - of (Paul’s) defense , - Festus exclaimed - in a loud voice , “ You are insane , Paul ! (Your) great learning is driving you to madness ! ”
But - Paul answered vvv , “ I am not insane , most excellent Festus ; - I am speaking words of tRuth - and sobriety.
For the king knows about these (matters) , and I can speak freely to (him). vvv vvv I am confident that none ... of this has escaped his (notice) , because (it) was not done in a corner.
King Agrippa , do you believe the prophets ? I know - you (do). ”
Then - Agrippa (said) to - Paul , “ Can you persuade me in such a short (time) to become a Christian ? ”
vvv vvv “ Short (time) (or) vvv long , ” - - Paul (replied) , “ I wish - to God that not only you but - all who hear me this day may become what ... I - am , except for these - chains. ”
Then the king and the governor rose , along with - Bernice and those seated with them.
- On their way out , they said to one another - - , “ This - man has done nothing ... worthy of death or imprisonment. ”
And Agrippa said to Festus , “ This - man could have been released if vvv he had not appealed to Caesar. ”