Acts 26

Paul’s Defense Before Agrippa

1 Agrippa said to Paul, “Alright, you got the floor. Defend yourself.” Paul stretched out his hand and started talking.

2 “King Agrippa, I am hyped to defend myself today, especially since you are an expert on Jewish customs and beefs.

3 So please be patient while I break it down.”

4 “All the Jews know my story. They have known me since I was young, back in my hometown and in Jerusalem.

5 They can testify that I lived as a Pharisee, the strictest sect of our religion, if they are willing to be honest.

6 Now I am on trial because I believe in the promise God made to our ancestors.

7 The twelve tribes are still praying and hoping to see this promise fulfilled. That is why they hate me, King Agrippa, because I believe in this hope.

8 Why is it so wild for you all to believe God can raise the dead?”

9 “I used to think it was my mission to shut down this Jesus movement.

10 In Jerusalem, I locked up a lot of believers with the authority I got from the chief priests. And when they were sentenced to death, I voted against them.

11 I punished them in synagogues, trying to force them to deny Jesus. I was so heated, I even chased them into foreign cities.”

12 “One time, I was heading to Damascus with authority from the chief priests.

13 At midday, King Agrippa, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing all around me and my crew.

14 We hit the ground, and I heard a voice in Aramaic: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you coming after me, You are only hurting yourself!’

15 I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.

16 But get up. I picked you to be my servant, to tell people what you have seen and what I am going to show you.

17 I will rescue you from your people and the Gentiles I am sending you to.

18 You will open their eyes so they can turn from darkness to light, from Satan to God, and receive forgiveness and a place with the ones made holy by faith in me.’”

19 “So, King Agrippa, I could not ignore what I saw.

20 I started preaching, first in Damascus, then in Jerusalem, all over Judea, and to the Gentiles. I told them to repent, turn to God, and prove it by how they live.

21 That is why the Jews grabbed me in the temple and tried to kill me.

22 But God’s had my back. I am here today, telling everyone, rich or poor, what the prophets and Moses said would happen:

23 That the Messiah would suffer, rise from the dead, and bring light to Jews and Gentiles alike.”

Agrippa Responds

24 Festus interrupted, yelling, “Paul, you have lost your mind! All this learning got you acting crazy!”

25 Paul said, “I am not crazy, most excellent Festus. I am spitting facts.

26 The king knows what I am talking about. None of this happened in secret.

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

28 Agrippa said, “You think you can convince me to be a Christian that quick?”

29 Paul replied, “Quick or slow, I pray to God that not just you, but everyone listening, would become like me, minus these chains.”

30 The king, Festus, Bernice, and the others got up and left.

31 As they talked, they said, “This man has not done anything deserving death or prison.”

32 Agrippa told Festus, “If he had not appealed to Caesar, we could have let him go.”