Acts 26

Paul made his defense before King Agrippa, recounting his former life as a Pharisee, his conversion on the road to Damascus, and his commission to preach to both Jews and Gentiles. Agrippa said, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian," and both Agrippa and Festus agreed that Paul had done nothing worthy of death or bonds.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:	Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
2	I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:	"I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, to be able to defend myself before you today against all the accusations of the Jews.
3	Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.	I am especially glad because you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4	My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;	All the Jews know the way I lived from my youth — first among my own people and then in Jerusalem.
5	Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.	They have known me for a long time. If they are willing to testify, they can say that I lived as a Pharisee — the strictest sect of our religion.
6	And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:	Now I stand on trial because of my hope in what God promised our fathers.
7	Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.	This is the promise our twelve tribes hope to receive as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me.
8	Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?	Why should any of you think it incredible that God raises the dead?
9	I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.	I myself once thought I should do everything possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10	Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.	And I did so in Jerusalem. I shut up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
11	And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.	Many times I went through every synagogue and punished them. I tried to force them to blaspheme. My rage against them was so great that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12	Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,	On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
13	At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.	About noon, O king, I saw a light from heaven — brighter than the sun — blazing around me and those traveling with me.
14	And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.	We all fell 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.'
15	And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.	I asked, 'Who are You, Lord?' The Lord replied, 'I am Jesus, whom You are persecuting.
16	But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;	Now get up and stand on Your feet. I have appeared to You for this purpose — to appoint You as a servant and a witness of what You have seen and what I will show You.
17	Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,	I will rescue You from Your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending You to them
18	To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.	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 of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'
19	Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:	So, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
20	But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.	First to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem, throughout all the region of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God and show their repentance by their deeds.
21	For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.	Because of this the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
22	Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:	To this day I have had God's help, so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I say nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen —
23	That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.	that the Christ would suffer, and that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would bring light to our own people and to the Gentiles."
24	And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.	While Paul was making his defense, Festus interrupted loudly: "You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane."
25	But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.	Paul replied, "I am not insane, most excellent Festus. What I am saying is true and reasonable.
26	For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.	The king knows about these things. I can speak freely to him. I am certain that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.
27	King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.	King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe."
28	Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.	Agrippa said to Paul, "Almost you persuade me to be a Christian."
29	And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.	Paul replied, "I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day were both almost and altogether such as I am — except for these chains."
30	And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:	The king rose to his feet, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them.
31	And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.	After they withdrew, they talked to one another and said, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."
32	Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.	Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."