52 lines
4.1 KiB
Markdown
52 lines
4.1 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 26
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1. Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You may speak in your defense."
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So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense:
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2. "I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders,
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3. for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!
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4. "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.
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5. If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.
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6. Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God's promise made to our ancestors.
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7. 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!
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8. Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?
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9. "I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene.
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10. Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death.
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11. Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.
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12. "One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests.
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13.
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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.
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14. We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, *'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.'*
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15. "'Who are you, lord?' I asked.
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"And the Lord replied, *'I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.*
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16. *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.*
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17. *And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles*
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18. *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.'*
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19. "And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven.
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20. 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.
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21. Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me.
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22. 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--
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23. 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."
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24. Suddenly, Festus shouted, "Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!"
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25. But Paul replied, "I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth.
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26. 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!
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27. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do--"
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28. Agrippa interrupted him. "Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?"
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29. 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."
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30. Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left.
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31. As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, "This man hasn't done anything to deserve death or imprisonment."
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32. And Agrippa said to Festus, "He could have been set free if he hadn't appealed to Caesar."
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