New King James Version

New Living Translation

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

1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.” So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started 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 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 expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear 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, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.

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 knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived 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 and am judged 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.

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.

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

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

9“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to 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.

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.

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 every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged 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“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and 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.

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.

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 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.’

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. ’

15So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He 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 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.

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 deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send 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, 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.’

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, 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 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.

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 these reasons 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.

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—

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 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 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.”

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

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

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

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

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.

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 do believe.”

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

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

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

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.”

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.”

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, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left.

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

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