26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? 9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities. 12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, <woj>‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’</woj> 15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’“ <woj>‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’</woj> the Lord replied. 16 <woj>‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. </woj> 17 <woj>I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them</woj> 18 <woj>to open their eyes and turn them 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.’ </woj> 19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen — 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” 24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” 25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” 30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”<cr>1</cr> <pb/>So Paul motioned with his hand<cr>2</cr> and began his defense:

Acts 26:1

“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you<cr>1</cr> today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews,<cr>2</cr>

Acts 26:2

and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs<cr>1</cr> and controversies.<cr>2</cr> Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

Acts 26:3

“The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child,<cr>1</cr> from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem.

Acts 26:4

They have known me for a long time<cr>1</cr> and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect<cr>2</cr> of our religion, living as a Pharisee.<cr>3</cr>

Acts 26:5

And now it is because of my hope<cr>1</cr> in what God has promised our ancestors<cr>2</cr> that I am on trial today.

Acts 26:6

This is the promise our twelve tribes<cr>1</cr> are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night.<cr>2</cr> King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me.<cr>3</cr>

Acts 26:7

Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?<cr>1</cr>

Acts 26:8

“I too was convinced<cr>1</cr> that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose<cr>2</cr> the name of Jesus of Nazareth.<cr>3</cr>

Acts 26:9

And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people<cr>1</cr> in prison,<cr>2</cr> and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.<cr>3</cr>

Acts 26:10

Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished,<cr>1</cr> and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

Acts 26:11

“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.

Acts 26:12

About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.

Acts 26:13

We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice<cr>1</cr> saying to me in Aramaic,<ft>1</ft><cr>2</cr> <woj>‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’</woj>

Acts 26:14

“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’<pb/>“ <woj>‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’</woj> the Lord replied.

Acts 26:15

<woj>‘Now get up and stand on your feet.<cr>1</cr> I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.<cr>2</cr> </woj>

Acts 26:16

<woj>I will rescue you<cr>1</cr> from your own people and from the Gentiles.<cr>2</cr> I am sending you to them</woj>

Acts 26:17

<woj>to open their eyes<cr>1</cr> and turn them from darkness to light,<cr>2</cr> and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins<cr>3</cr> and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’<cr>4</cr> </woj>

Acts 26:18

“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient<cr>1</cr> to the vision from heaven.

Acts 26:19

First to those in Damascus,<cr>1</cr> then to those in Jerusalem<cr>2</cr> and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles,<cr>3</cr> I preached that they should repent<cr>4</cr> and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.<cr>5</cr>

Acts 26:20

That is why some Jews seized me<cr>1</cr> in the temple courts and tried to kill me.<cr>2</cr>

Acts 26:21

But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen<cr>1</cr> —

Acts 26:22

that the Messiah would suffer<cr>1</cr> and, as the first to rise from the dead,<cr>2</cr> would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”<cr>3</cr>

Acts 26:23

At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind,<cr>1</cr> Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning<cr>2</cr> is driving you insane.”

Acts 26:24

“I am not insane, most excellent<cr>1</cr> Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable.

Acts 26:25

The king is familiar with these things,<cr>1</cr> and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.

Acts 26:26

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

Acts 26:27

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”<cr>1</cr>

Acts 26:28

Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”<cr>1</cr>

Acts 26:29

The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice<cr>1</cr> and those sitting with them.

Acts 26:30

After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”<cr>1</cr>

Acts 26:31

Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free<cr>1</cr> if he had not appealed to Caesar.”<cr>2</cr>

Acts 26:32

 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”   So Paul motioned with his hand   and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you   today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews,   3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs   and controversies.   Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child,   from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time   and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect   of our religion, living as a Pharisee.   6 And now it is because of my hope   in what God has promised our ancestors   that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes   are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night.   King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me.   8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?   9 “I too was convinced   that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose   the name of Jesus of Nazareth.   10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people   in prison,   and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.   11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished,   and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities. 12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice   saying to me in Aramaic,   ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet.   I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.   17 I will rescue you   from your own people and from the Gentiles.   I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes   and turn them 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.’   19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient   to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus,   then to those in Jerusalem   and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles,   I preached that they should repent   and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.   21 That is why some Jews seized me   in the temple courts and tried to kill me.   22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen  — 23 that the Messiah would suffer   and, as the first to rise from the dead,   would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”   24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind,   Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning   is driving you insane.” 25 “I am not insane, most excellent   Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things,   and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”   29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”   30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice   and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”   32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free   if he had not appealed to Caesar.”  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

Acts26 - NIV

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