Acts 26:2-29

2“Regarding all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate 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 way of life since my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and in 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 standing trial 8for the hope of 9the promise made by God to our fathers; 7the promise 10to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. For this 11hope, O king, I am being 12accused by Jews. 8Why is it considered incredible among you people 13if God raises the dead?

9“So 14I thought to myself that I had to act in strong opposition to 15the name of Jesus 16of Nazareth. 10And this is 17just what I 18did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the 19saints in prisons, after 20receiving authority from the chief priests, but I also 21cast my vote against them when they were being put to death. 11And 22as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was 23extremely 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 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 as a 35servant and 36a witness not only to the things in which you have seen Me, but also to the things in which I will appear to you, 1737rescuing you 38from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18to 39open their eyes so that they may turn from 40darkness to light, and from the 41power 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“For that reason, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but continually proclaimed 46to those in Damascus first, and 47in Jerusalem, and then all the region of Judea, and even 48to the Gentiles, that they are to 49repent and turn to God, performing deeds 50consistent with repentance. 21For these reasons some Jews 51seized me in the temple and tried 52to murder me. 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, 23as to 55whether the 56Christ was 57to suffer, and whether, as 58first from the resurrection of the dead, He would proclaim 59light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

24While 60Paul was stating these things in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! 61Your great 62learning is 63driving you insane.” 25But Paul said, “I am not insane, 64most excellent Festus; on the contrary, I am speaking out with 65truthful and rational words. 26For the king 6667knows about these matters, and I also speak to him with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a 68corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe.” 28Agrippa replied to Paul, “69In a short time you are going to persuade me to 70make a 71Christian of myself.” 29And Paul said, “I would 72wish to God that even 73in a short or long time not only you, but also all who hear me this day would become such as I myself am, except for these 74chains.”