Acts 26 NIV NLT Parallel

◄ Acts 26 ►

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1Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." So Paul motioned with 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:

2"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense 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,

3and especially so because you are well acquainted with 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!

4"The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also 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 have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living 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 it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today.

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

7This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me.

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 should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

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

9"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose 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 that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord's people in prison, and 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.

11Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in 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"On one of these journeys I was going 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.

13About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.

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 saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute 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. ’

15"Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' " 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied.

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

16Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.

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 your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending 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 and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so 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"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.

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

20First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.

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.

21That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.

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

22But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen--

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 would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own 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.”

24At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."

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

25"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable.

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

26The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it 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 do."

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

28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"

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

29Paul replied, "Short time or long--I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what 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.”

30The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them.

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

31After they left the room, they began saying to one another, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."

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

32Agrippa 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.”

New International Version (NIV)

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