Acts 26 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Paul Defends Himself before Agrippa

26 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 the Jews, 3 because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg of you to listen to me patiently.(B)

4 “All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem.(C)5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee.(D)6 And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors,(E)7 a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship day and night. It is for this hope, Your Excellency,[a] that I am accused by Jews!(F)8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?(G)

9 “Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.[b](H)10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem; with authority received from the chief priests, I not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death.(I)11 By punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme, and since I was so furiously enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.(J)

Paul Tells of His Conversion

12 “With this in mind, I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,(K)13 when at midday along the road, Your Excellency,[c] I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. 14 When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew[d] language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.’(L)15 I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The Lord answered, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me[e] and to those in which I will appear to you.(M)17 I will rescue you from your people and from the gentiles—to whom I am sending you(N)18 to 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 place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’(O)

Paul Tells of His Preaching

19 “After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance.(P)21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.(Q)22 To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place:(R)23 that the Messiah[f] 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.”(S)

Paul Appeals to Agrippa to Believe

24 While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!”(T)25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth.(U)26 Indeed, the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely, for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?”(V)29 Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.”(W)

30 Then the king got up and with him the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them, 31 and as they were leaving they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.”(X)32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor.”(Y)

Footnotes

  1. 26.7Gk O King
  2. 26.9Gk the Nazorean
  3. 26.13Gk O King
  4. 26.14That is, Aramaic
  5. 26.16Other ancient authorities read the things that you have seen
  6. 26.23Or the Christ

Cross references

  1. 26.1 : Acts 9.15; 25.22
  2. 26.3 : Acts 6.14; 25.19
  3. 26.4 : Gal 1.13, 14; Phil 3.5
  4. 26.5 : Acts 22.3; Phil 3.5
  5. 26.6 : Acts 23.6; Rom 15.8; Titus 2.13
  6. 26.7 : 1 Thess 3.10; 1 Tim 5.5; Jas 1.1
  7. 26.8 : Acts 23.6
  8. 26.9 : Jn 15.21; 16.2; 1 Tim 1.13
  9. 26.10 : Acts 8.3; 9.14, 21; Gal 1.13
  10. 26.11 : Acts 22.19
  11. 26.12 : Acts 9.3; 22.6
  12. 26.14 : Acts 9.7; 21.40
  13. 26.16 : Ezek 2.1; Dan 10.11; Acts 22.14, 15
  14. 26.17 : Jer 1.8, 19; Acts 22.21
  15. 26.18 : Isa 35.5; 42.7; Lk 24.47; Acts 2.38; Eph 5.8; Col 1.13
  16. 26.20 : Mt 3.8; Lk 3.8; Acts 9.19–29
  17. 26.21 : Acts 21.30, 31
  18. 26.22 : Lk 24.27, 44; Acts 24.14
  19. 26.23 : Mt 26.24; Lk 2.32; 1 Cor 15.20; Rev 1.5
  20. 26.24 : 2 Kings 9.11; Jn 10.20; 1 Cor 1.23
  21. 26.25 : Acts 23.26
  22. 26.28 : Acts 11.26
  23. 26.29 : Acts 21.33
  24. 26.31 : Acts 23.29
  25. 26.32 : Acts 25.11; 28.18

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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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