|
|
KING JAMES VERSION
Prior Chapter | Next
Chapter |
|
|
|
1 |
Then Agrippa said
unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched
forth the hand, and answered for himself:
|
|
|
2 |
I think myself
happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee
touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
|
|
3 |
Especially because I
know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the
Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
|
|
4 |
My manner of life
from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem,
know all the Jews;
|
|
5 |
Which knew me from
the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of
our religion I lived a Pharisee.
|
|
6 |
And now I stand and
am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
|
|
7 |
Unto which promise
our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For
which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
|
|
8 |
Why should it be
thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
|
|
9 |
I verily thought
with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of
Nazareth.
|
|
10 |
Which thing I also
did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having
received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death,
I gave my voice against them.
|
|
11 |
And I punished them
oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being
exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
|
|
12 |
Whereupon as I went
to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
|
|
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 which journeyed with me.
|
|
14 |
And when we were all
fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the
Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou
me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
|
|
15 |
And I said, Who art
thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou
persecutest.
|
|
16 |
But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have
appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness
both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which
I will appear unto thee;
|
|
17 |
Delivering thee from the people, and from the
Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
|
|
18 |
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness
to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by
faith that is in me.
|
|
19 |
Whereupon, O king
Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
|
|
20 |
But shewed first
unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of
Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God,
and do works meet for repentance.
|
|
21 |
For these causes the
Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
|
|
22 |
Having therefore
obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and
great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did
say should come:
|
|
23 |
That Christ should
suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and
should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
|
|
24 |
And as he thus spake
for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself;
much learning doth make thee mad.
|
|
25 |
But he said, I am
not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and
soberness.
|
|
26 |
For the king knoweth
of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that
none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a
corner.
|
|
27 |
King Agrippa,
believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
|
|
28 |
Then Agrippa said
unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
|
|
29 |
And Paul said, I
would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were
both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
|
|
30 |
And when he had thus
spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat
with them:
|
|
31 |
And when they were
gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing
worthy of death or of bonds.
|
|
32 |
Then said Agrippa
unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed
unto Caesar.
|
|
|
_________________________________________
Prior Chapter | Next
Chapter
More
Bible Translations
|
