Acts 26 - J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have our permission to speak for yourself.”

Paul repeats his story on a state occasion

2-3 So Paul, with that characteristic gesture of the hand, began his defence: “King Agrippa, in answering all the charges that the Jews have made against me, I must say how fortunate I consider myself to be in making my defence before you personally today. For I know that you are thoroughly familiar with all the customs and disputes that exist among the Jews. I therefore ask you to listen to me patiently.

4-18 “The fact that I lived from my youth upwards among my own people in Jerusalem is well known to all Jews. They have known all the time, and could witness to the fact if they wished, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. Even today I stand here on trial because of a hope that I hold in a promise that God made to our forefather—a promise for which our twelve tribes served God zealously day and night, hoping to see it fulfilled. It is about this hope, your majesty, that I am being accused by the Jews! Why does it seem incredible to you all that God should raise the dead? I once thought it my duty to oppose with the utmost vigour the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Yes, that is what I did in Jerusalem, and I had many of God’s people imprisoned on the authority of the chief priests, and when they were on trial for their lives I gave my vote against them. Many and many a time in all the synagogues I had them punished and I used to try and force them to deny their Lord. I was mad with fury against them, and I hounded them to distant cities. Once, your majesty, on my way to Damascus on this business, armed with the full authority and commission of the chief priests, at midday I saw a light from Heaven, far brighter than the sun, blazing about me and my fellow-travellers. We all fell to the ground and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is not for you to kick against your own conscience.’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I said. And the Lord said to me, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Now get up and stand on your feet for I have shown myself to you for a reason—you are chosen to be my servant and a witness to what you have seen of me today, and of other visions of myself which I will give you. I will keep you safe from both your own people and from the Gentiles to whom I now send you. I send you to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God himself, so that they may know forgiveness of their sins and take their place with all those who are made holy by their faith in me.’

19-23 After that, King Agrippa, I could not disobey the heavenly vision. But both in Damascus and in Jerusalem, through the whole of Judea, and to the Gentiles, I preached that men should repent and turn to God and live lives to prove their change of heart. This is why the Jews seized me in the Temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have received help from God himself, and I stand here as a witness to high and low, adding nothing to what the prophets foretold should take place, that is, that Christ should suffer, that he should be first to rise from the dead, and so proclaim the message of light both to our people and to the Gentiles!”

Festus concludes that Paul’s enthusiasm is insanity

24 While he was thus defending himself Festus burst out, “You are raving, Paul! All your learning has driven you mad!”

25-27 But Paul replied, “I am not mad, your excellency. I speak nothing but sober truth. The king knows of these matters, and I can speak freely before him. I cannot believe that any of these matters has escaped his notice, for it has been no hole-and-corner business. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? But I know that you believe them.”

28 “Much more of this, Paul,” returned Agrippa, “and you will be making me a Christian!”

29 “Ah,” returned Paul, “whether it means ‘much more’ or ‘only a little’, I would to God that both you and all who can hear me this day might stand where I stand—but without these chains.

The Roman officials consider Paul innocent

30-31 Then the king rose to his feet and so did the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them, and when they had retired from the assembly they discussed the matter among themselves and agreed, “This man is doing nothing to deserve either death or imprisonment.”

32 Agrippa remarked to Festus, “He might easily have been discharged if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

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Acts 26 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

26 And Agrippa said unto Paul, `It is permitted to thee to speak for thyself;' then Paul having stretched forth the hand, was making a defence: 2 `Concerning all things of which I am accused by Jews, king Agrippa, I have thought myself happy, being about to make a defence before thee to-day, 3 espec...
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Acts 26 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

26 And Agrippa said to Paul, It is suffered to thee, to speak for thyself. Then Paul held forth the hand, and began to yield reason. 2 Of all things, in which I am accused of the Jews, thou king Agrippa, I guess me blessed at thee, when I shall defend me this day; 3 most for thou knowest all thing...
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Acts 26 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, `You may speak for yourself.' So Paul put out his hand and began to speak. 2 `King Agrippa, I am happy to speak for myself before you today. I will talk about all the things the leaders of the Jews have said against me. 3 You know all the ways of the Jews. You know what...
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Acts 26 - World English Bible (WEB)

26 Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.”Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defense. 2 “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you today concerning all the things that I am accused by the Jews, 3 especially because you are expert in all cus...
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Acts 26 - The Voice (VOICE)

26 Agrippa (to Paul): Go ahead. You may speak for yourself. Paul (extending his hand): 2 I am indeed fortunate to be standing before you, King Agrippa, to humbly defend myself against accusations from my Jewish opponents. 3 You are extraordinarily familiar with Jewish customs and controversies, so ...
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Acts 26 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Defense Before King Agrippa26 Agrippa said to Paul, “It is permitted for you to speak for yourself.”Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense. 2 “Concerning all I am accused of by the Judean leaders, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that it is before you that I am about to ma...
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Acts 26 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Paul Defends Himself before Agrippa26 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 fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 b...
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Acts 26 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Paul Defends Himself before Agrippa26 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 fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 b...
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Acts 26 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So, Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself. 2 “I consider myself happy, King Agrippa. Because today I shall answer before you all the things of which I am accused by the Jews; 3 “especially because you have kno...
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Acts 26 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Paul Before Agrippa26 Agrippa addressed Paul.‘You are permitted’, he said, ‘to speak for yourself.’Paul stretched out his hand and began his defence. 2 ‘I consider myself blessed, King Agrippa,’ he said, ‘to have the chance to speak before you today in my defence concerning all the things of which t...
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Acts 26 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Paul Defends Himself before Agrippa26 Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself: 2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the ...
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Acts 26 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Paul Defends Himself before Agrippa26 Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You have permission to speak for yourself.’ Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself: 2 ‘I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defence today against all the accusations of the ...
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Acts 26 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Paul Defends Himself before Agrippa26 Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself:(A)2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of th...
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Acts 26 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

King Agrippa hears Paul, who describes his calling from the beginning. 26 Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand and answered for himself: 2 I think myself fortunate, King Agrippa, because I may answer this day before you to all the things I...
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Acts 26 - New Living Translation (NLT)

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.”So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: 2 “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, 3 for I know you are an expert on all Jewish c...
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Acts 26 - New Life Version (NLV)

Paul Speaks to King Agrippa26 Agrippa said to Paul, “You may now speak for yourself.” Paul lifted his hand and started to talk, 2 “King Agrippa, the Jews have said many things against me. I am happy to be able to tell you my side of the story. 3 You know all about the Jewish ways and problems. So ...
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Acts 26 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Paul’s Early Life26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.”So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: 2 “I think myself (A)happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer (B)for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am (C)accused by the...
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