44_ACT_26_01 Then Agrippa said unto Paul , thou art permitted to speak for thyself . Then Paul stretched forth the hand , And answered for himself :
44_ACT_26_02 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 :
44_ACT_26_03 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 .
44_ACT_26_04 my manner of life from my youth , which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem , know all the Jews ;
44_ACT_26_05 which knew me from the beginning , if they would testify , that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived A Pharisee .
44_ACT_26_06 And now I stand And am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers :
44_ACT_26_07 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 .
44_ACT_26_08 why should it be thought A thing incredible with you , that God should raise the dead ?
44_ACT_26_09 I Verily thought with myself , that I ought to do Many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth .
44_ACT_26_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 ] .
44_ACT_26_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 .
44_ACT_26_12 whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority And commission from the chief priests ,
44_ACT_26_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 .
44_ACT_26_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 .
44_ACT_26_15 And I said , who art thou , LORD ? And he said , I am Jesus whom thou persecutest .
44_ACT_26_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 ;
44_ACT_26_17 delivering thee from the people , And [ from ] the Gentiles , unto whom now I send thee ,
44_ACT_26_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 .
44_ACT_26_19 whereupon , O king Agrippa , I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision :
44_ACT_26_20 but showed 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 .
44_ACT_26_21 for These causes the Jews caught me in the temple , And went about to kill [ me ] .
44_ACT_26_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 :
44_ACT_26_23 that Christ should suffer , [ And ] that he should be the first that should rise from the dead , And should show light unto the people , And to the Gentiles .
44_ACT_26_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 .
44_ACT_26_25 but he said , I am not mad , most noble Festus ; but speak forth the words of truth And soberness .
44_ACT_26_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 .
44_ACT_26_27 king Agrippa , believest thou the prophets ? I know that thou believest .
44_ACT_26_28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul , Almost thou persuadest me to be A Christian .
44_ACT_26_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 .
44_ACT_26_30 And when he had thus spoken , the king rose up , And the governor , And Bernice , And they that sat with them :
44_ACT_26_31 And when they were gone aside , they talked between themselves , saying , this man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds .
44_ACT_26_32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus , this man might have been set at liberty , if he had not appealed unto Caesar .