Acts 26:2-29

2“In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; 31especially because you are an expert in all 2customs and 3questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4“So then, all Jews know 4my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem; 5since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a 5Pharisee 6according to the strictest 7sect of our religion. 6And now I am 8standing trial 9for the hope of 10the promise made by God to our fathers; 7the promise 11to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this 12hope, O King, I am being 13accused by Jews. 8Why is it considered incredible among you people 14if God does raise the dead?

9“So then, 15I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to 16the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10And this is 17just what I 18did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the 19saints in prisons, having 20received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I 21cast my vote against them. 11And 22as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being 23furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them 24even to 25foreign cities.

12“26While so engaged 27as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, 28brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 14And when we had 29all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the 3031Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? 32It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16But get up and 33stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to 34appoint you a 35minister and 36a witness not only to the things which you have 37seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 1738rescuing you 39from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18to 40open their eyes so that they may turn from 41darkness to light and from the dominion of 42Satan to God, that they may receive 43forgiveness of sins and an 44inheritance among those who have been sanctified by 45faith in Me.’

19“So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but kept declaring both 46to those of Damascus first, and also 47at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even 48to the Gentiles, that they should 49repent and turn to God, performing deeds 50appropriate to repentance. 21For this reason some Jews 51seized me in the temple and tried 52to put me to death. 22So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day 53testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what 54the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; 235556that 57the Christ was 58to suffer, and 59that 60by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim 61light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

24While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! 62Your great 63learning is 64driving you mad.” 25But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, 65most excellent Festus, but I utter words 66of sober truth. 26For the king 6768knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a 69corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you 70do.” 28Agrippa replied to Paul, “71In a short time you 72will persuade me to 73become a 74Christian.” 29And Paul said, “75I would wish to God, that whether 76in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these 77chains.”