English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.” So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense:

2“I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,

2“I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders,

3especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

3for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!

4“My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews.

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.

5They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.

5If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.

6And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,

6Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God’s promise made to our ancestors.

7to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!

7In 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!

8Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

8Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?

9“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

9“I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene.

10And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.

10Indeed, 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.

11And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

11Many 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.

12“In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.

12“One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests.

13At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.

13About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions.

14And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

14We 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. ’

15And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

15“‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.

16But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you,

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.

17delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you

17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles

18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

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.’

19“Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

19“And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven.

20but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

20I 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.

21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

21Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me.

22To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:

22But 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—

23that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

23that 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.”

24And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”

24Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”

25But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.

25But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth.

26For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.

26And 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!

27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”

27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—”

28And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”

28Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”

29And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”

29Paul 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.”

30Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.

30Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left.

31And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.”

31As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything to deserve death or imprisonment.”

32And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

32And Agrippa said to Festus, “He could have been set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.”

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.