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Paul’s Early Life
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”
So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”
So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.”
So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense:
So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense:
“I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews,
“I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders,
especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!
“My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.
“As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem.
They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.
And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.
Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God’s promise made to our ancestors.
To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.
In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel zealously worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope!
Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?
Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?
This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Paul Recounts His Conversion
“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
“One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests.
at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.
About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions.
And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
“‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.
“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.
But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future.
And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles
to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’
Paul’s Post-Conversion Life
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
“And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven.
but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God — and prove they have changed by the good things they do.
For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me.
Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come —
But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen —
that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike.”
Agrippa Parries Paul’s Challenge
Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”
Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”
Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”
But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth.
For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.
And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner!
King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”
King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do — ”
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”
When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them;
Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left.
and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”
As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything to deserve death or imprisonment.”