Acts 26

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

Agrippa gave Paul the floor, "You may speak in your defense." Paul, with a wave of his hand, began to explain himself:

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:

I feel blessed, King Agrippa, for today I get the chance to defend myself against all the accusations made by the Jews.

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

I'm aware that you're well-versed in Jewish customs and queries. So, I kindly ask for your patient listening as I speak.

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

From my early years, growing up in Jerusalem among my own people, all the Jews are aware of how I lived.

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

Those who've known me from the start can vouch for this - I lived as a devout Pharisee, following the strictest rules of our faith.

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, unto our fathers:

Now, I stand here, being judged for holding onto the hopeful promise God made to our ancestors.

Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

Our twelve tribes, passionately devoted to God every moment, yearn for the fulfillment of His promise. It is this very hope, King Agrippa, that has led the Jews to accuse me.

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

Is it really so hard to believe that God has the power to bring the dead back to life?

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

Honestly, I once believed that I had to act against the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

In Jerusalem, I acted with authority from the high priests, imprisoning many good souls. I even voiced approval when they were sentenced to death. I'm haunted by these actions.

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

I often disciplined them in every place of worship, forcing them to speak against their beliefs. Filled with intense anger towards them, I chased them relentlessly, even into unfamiliar cities.

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

As I journeyed to Damascus, empowered and directed by the high priests,

At 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.

In the heat of the noon, dear king, I witnessed a heavenly light on my path, brighter than the sun, enveloping me and my companions.

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

As we all collapsed to the ground, I heard a voice, filled with sorrow and confusion, speaking to me in Hebrew. It said, "Saul, Saul, why are you hurting me? It's like you're fighting a losing battle."

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

In confusion, I asked, "Who are you, my Lord?" And with a gentle voice, he replied, "It's me, Jesus, the one you've been opposing."

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to 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;

Get up, stand tall. I've shown myself to you for a reason: to make you a messenger and a witness of all you've seen and will see from me.

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

I'm freeing you from your own people and the non-Jews, to whom I'm now sending you.

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

To open their eyes, guiding them from the shadows into the light, and from the power of Satan to God. So they may find forgiveness for their sins, and a share among those made holy through faith in me.

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

King Agrippa, I faithfully followed the divine vision I received.

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

First, I shared the message in Damascus, then in Jerusalem, and across all of Judea, before taking it to the rest of the world. The message was clear: turn away from your wrongdoings, seek God, and prove your change of heart through your actions.

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

Because of these reasons, the Jews cornered me in the temple, intending to end my life.

Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

With God's help, I carry on each day, sharing the truth with everyone, big and small. I only speak of what the prophets and Moses predicted would happen.

That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

Christ had to endure pain, and he was the first to resurrect from death, bringing hope and enlightenment to our own people and to the non-Jews as well.

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

As he defended himself, Festus interrupted loudly, "Paul, you've lost your mind! Your extensive knowledge has driven you insane."

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

He replied, "I'm not crazy, respected Festus, I'm just expressing the honest and serious truth."

For the 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.

The king is aware of all these matters, and I speak openly to him. I'm confident that nothing is concealed from him, as nothing happened in secret.

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

King Agrippa, do you trust in the prophets' words? I'm certain that you do.

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Then Agrippa told Paul, "You nearly convinced me to become a Christian."

And Paul said, 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 bonds.

Paul passionately expressed, "I wish to God that everyone here today could be just like me, free in spirit and truth, yet without these chains."

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

After he finished speaking, the king, the governor, Bernice, and their companions all stood up, filled with a mix of emotions.

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

Once they stepped away, they privately shared their thoughts, "This man has done nothing to deserve death or imprisonment."

Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

Agrippa turned to Festus, expressing, "This man could have been free, if only he hadn't asked for Caesar's judgement."