Chapter 26

¹Then Agrippa said to Paul: Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching forth his hand, began to make his answer. ²I think myself happy, O king Agrippa, that I am to answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews. ³Especially as thou knowest all, both customs and questions that are among the Jews: Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. ⁴And my life indeed from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation in Jerusalem, all the Jews do know: ⁵Having known me from the beginning (if they will give testimony) that according to the most sure sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. ⁶And now for the hope of the promise that was made by God to the fathers, do I stand subject to judgment: ⁷Unto which, our twelve tribes, serving night and day, hope to come. For which hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews. ⁸Why should it be thought a thing incredible, that God should raise the dead? ⁹And I indeed did formerly think, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰Which also I did at Jerusalem, and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority of the chief priests: and when they were put to death, I brought the sentence. ¹¹And oftentimes punishing them, in every synagogue, I compelled them to blaspheme: and being yet more mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities. ¹²Whereupon when I was going to Damascus with authority and permission of the chief priest, ¹³At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and them that were in company with me. ¹⁴And when we were all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad. ¹⁵And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord answered: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. ¹⁶But rise up, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared to thee, that I may make thee a minister, and a witness of those things which thou hast seen, and of those things wherein I will appear to thee, ¹⁷Delivering thee from the people, and from the nations, unto which now I send thee: ¹⁸To open their eyes, that they may be converted from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and a lot among the saints, by the faith that is in me. ¹⁹Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not incredulous to the heavenly vision: ²⁰But to them first that are at Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and unto all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles did I preach, that they should do penance, and turn to God, doing works worthy of penance. ²¹For this cause the Jews, when I was in the temple, having apprehended me, went about to kill me. ²²But being aided by the help of God, I stand unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other thing than those which the prophets, and Moses did say should come to pass: ²³That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light to the people, and to the Gentiles. ²⁴As he spoke these things, and made his answer, Festus said with a loud voice: Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad. ²⁵And Paul said: I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and soberness. ²⁶For the king knoweth of these things, to whom also I speak with confidence. For I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him. For neither was any of these things done in a corner. ²⁷Believest thou the prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that thou believest. ²⁸And Agrippa said to Paul: In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian. ²⁹And Paul said: I would to God, that both in a little and in much, not only thou, but also all that hear me, this day, should become such as I also am, except these bands. ³⁰And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them. ³¹And when they were gone aside, they spoke among themselves, saying: This man hath done nothing worthy of death or of bands. ³²And Agrippa said to Festus: This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed to Caesar.