Holman Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

1Agrippa said to Paul, "It is permitted for you to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: "

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

2I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that today I am going to make a defense before you about everything I am accused of by 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 since you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and controversies. 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!

4All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem.

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 had previously known me for quite some time, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I 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 on trial for the hope of 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.

7the promise our 12 tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve Him night and day. King Agrippa, I am being accused by the Jews because of this hope.

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 considered 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?

9In fact, I myself supposed it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene.

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

10I actually did this in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. 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.

11In all the synagogues I often tried to make them blaspheme by punishing them. I even pursued them to foreign cities since I was greatly enraged at them."

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.

12I was traveling to Damascus under these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests.

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

13King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling 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.

14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking 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. ’

15Then I said, 'Who are You, Lord?'" And the Lord replied: I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting.

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

16But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and of what I will reveal 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.

17I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles. I now send you to them

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 they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that by faith in Me they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified.'"

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.’

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

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

20Instead, I preached to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem and in all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of 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 complex and were trying to kill me.

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

22To this very day, I have obtained help that comes from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing else than what the prophets and Moses said would take place--

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 Messiah must suffer, and that as the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light 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.”

24As he was making his defense this way, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, "You're out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad!"

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

25But Paul replied, "I'm not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. On the contrary, I'm speaking words of truth and good judgment.

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

26For the king knows about these matters. It is to him I am actually speaking boldly. For I am convinced that none of these things escapes his notice, since this was not 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 you believe."

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

28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Are you going to persuade me to become a Christian so easily?""

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

29I wish before God," replied Paul, "that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become 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.”

30So the king, the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them got up,

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

31and when they had left they talked with each other and said, "This man is doing nothing that deserves death or chains."

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

32Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released 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.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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.