New King James Version

English Standard Version

1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:

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

2“I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews,

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,

3especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.

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

4“My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.

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.

5They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

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.

6And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.

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

7To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.

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!

8Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?

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

9“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

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

10This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.

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.

11And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

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.

12“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

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

13at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.

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.

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

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.’

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

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

16But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

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,

17I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,

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

18to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

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.’

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

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

20but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.

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.

21For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

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

22Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—

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:

23that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

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.”

24Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

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.”

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

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

26For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.

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.

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

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

28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

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

29And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

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.”

30When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them;

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

31and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”

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

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

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.