1So Agrippa said to Paul, "It is permitted for you to speak for yourself." Then Paul extended [his] hand [and] began to defend himself:
2Concerning all [the things] of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate [that] before you I am about to defend myself today,
3[because] you are especially acquainted with both all the customs and controversial questions with respect to the Jews. Therefore I beg [you] to listen to me with patience.
4Now all the Jews know my manner of life from [my] youth, that had taken place from the beginning among my [own] people and in Jerusalem,
5having known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that in accordance with the strictest party of our religion I lived [as] a Pharisee.
6And now I stand here on trial on the basis of hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,
7to which our twelve tribes hope to attain as [they] earnestly serve [him] night and day. Concerning this hope I am being accused by the Jews, O king!
8Why is it thought incredible by you [people] that God raises the dead?
9Indeed, I myself thought it was necessary to do many [things] opposed to the name of Jesus the Nazarene,
10which I also did in Jerusalem, and not only did I lock up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, but also [when] they were being executed, I cast [my] vote against [them].
11And throughout all the synagogues I punished them often [and] tried to force [them] to blaspheme, and [because I] was enraged at them beyond measure, I was pursuing [them] even as far as to foreign cities.
12In _this activity_ I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and full power of the chief priests.
13In the middle of the day along the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven, more than the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who were traveling with me.
14And [when] we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Aramaic 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 the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
16But get up and stand on your feet, because for this [reason] I have appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and witness both [to the things] in which you saw me and [to the things] in which I will appear to you,
17rescuing you from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you,
18to open their eyes [so that they] may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, [so that] they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20but to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem and all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, I proclaimed [that they should] repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance.
21On account of these [things] the Jews seized me [while I] was in the temple [courts] [and] were attempting to kill [me].
22Therefore I have experienced help from God until this day, [and] I stand here testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what both the prophets and Moses have said were going to happen,
23that the Christ was to suffer [and] that [as] the first of the resurrection from the dead, he was going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.
24And [as] he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "You are out of your mind, Paul! [Your] great learning _is driving_ you _insane_!"
25But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking words of truth and rationality.
26For the king knows about these [things], to whom also I am speaking freely, for I am not convinced [that] any of these [things] in any way has escaped his notice, because this _was_ not _done_ in a corner.
27Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.
28But Agrippa [said] to Paul, "In a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?"
29And Paul [replied], "I pray to God, whether in a short time or in a long time, not only you but also all those who are listening to me today may become such [people] as I also am, except for these bonds!
30Both the king and the governor got up, and Bernice and those who were sitting with them.
31And [as they] were going out, they were talking to one another, saying, "This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment.
32And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.
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