Self-interpreting Bible

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Acts 26

1Paul in the presence of Agrippa declareth his life from his childhood, his wonderful conversion, and call to the apostleship, and his preaching of Christ according to the scripture doctrine. 24Festus chargeth him with madness; his modest reply, and address to Agrippa, who confesseth himself almost a Christian. 30The whole company pronounce him innocent.

1 THEN Agrippa said unto Paul, aThou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul bstretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

2 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:

    3 cEspecially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to dhear me patiently.

    4 eMy manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, fknow all the Jews;

    5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that gafter the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

    7 Unto which promise our itwelve tribes, *instantly serving God 1day and night, jhope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

    8 kWhy should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

    9 lI *verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

    10 mWhich thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the nsaints did I shut up in prison, having oreceived authority from the chief priests; and pwhen they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

    11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and qbeing exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto *strange cities.

    12 rWhereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

    13 sAt 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.

    14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in tthe Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the *pricks.

    15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

      16 uBut rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, vto 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;

      17 wDelivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

      18 xTo open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and yfrom the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive zforgiveness of sins, and ainheritance among them which are bsanctified by faith that is in me.

      19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, cI was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

      20 dBut shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and ethroughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, fthat they should repent and turn to God, and do works *meet for repentance.

      21 For these causes gthe Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

      22 Having therefore hobtained help of God, I continue unto this day, iwitnessing both to small and great, saying jnone other things than those which kthe prophets and Moses did say should come:

      23 lThat Christ should suffer, and that he should be mthe first that should rise from the dead, and should nshew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

      24 And as he thus spake for himself, oFestus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

      25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

        26 For pthe 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.

        27 King Agrippa, believest thou qthe prophets? I know that thou believest.

        28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, rAlmost thou persuadest me to be a sChristian.

        29 And Paul said, t*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 ubonds.

        30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and vBernice, and they that sat with them:

        31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man wdoeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

        32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, xThis man might have been set at liberty, if he had not yappealed unto Caesar.