1 THEN Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
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:
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.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto 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.
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to 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.
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.
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from 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.
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.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
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;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
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.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about 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:
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.
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.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
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.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest 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.
30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.

1Then Agrippa said vnto Paul, Thou art permitted to speake for thy selfe. Then Paul stretched foorth the hand, and answered for himselfe,

2I thinke my selfe happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answere for my selfe this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Iewes:

3Especially, because I know thee to be expert in all customes and questions which are among the Iewes: wherefore I beseech thee to heare mee patiently.

4My maner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine owne nation at Hierusalem, know all the Iewes,

5Which knew me from the beginning, (if they would testifie) that after the most straitest sect of our religion, I liued a Pharisee.

6And now I stand, and am iudged for the hope of the promise made of God vnto our fathers:

7Vnto which promise our twelue tribes instantly seruing God day and night, hope to come: For which hopes sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Iewes.

8Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

9I verily thought with my selfe, that I ought to doe many things contrary to the name of Iesus of Nazareth:

10Which thing I also did in Hierusalem, and many of the Saints did I shut vp in prison, hauing receiued authoritie from the chiefe Priests, and when they were put to death, I gaue my voyce against them.

11And I punished them oft in euery Synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme, and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them euen vnto strange cities.

12Whereupon, as I went to Damascus, with authoritie and commission from the chiefe Priests:

13At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heauen, aboue the brightnes of the Sunne, shining round about mee, and them which iourneyed with me.

14And when wee were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking vnto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kicke against the prickes.

15And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And hee said, I am Iesus whom thou persecutest.

16But rise, and stand vpon thy feete, for I haue appeared vnto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witnesse, both of these things which thou hast seene, & of those things in the which I will appeare vnto thee,

17Deliuering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, vnto whom now I send thee,

18To open their eyes, and to turne them from darknesse to light, and from the power of Satan vnto God, that they may receiue forgiuenesse of sinnes, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient vnto the heauenly vision:

20But shewed first vnto them of Damascus, and at Hierusalem, and thorowout all the coasts of Iudea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turne to God, and do works meete for repentance.

21For these causes the Iewes caught mee in the Temple, and went about to kill me.

22Hauing therefore obteined helpe of God, I continue vnto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things then those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come:

23That Christ should suffer, and that hee should be the first that should rise from the dead, & should shew light vnto the people, and to the Gentiles.

24And as hee thus spake for himselfe, Festus saide with a lowd voyce, Paul, thou art beside thy selfe, much learning doeth make thee mad.

25But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speake foorth the words of trueth and sobernesse.

26For the King knoweth of these things, before whom also I speake freely: for I am perswaded, that none of these things are hidden from him, for this thing was not done in a corner.

27King Agrippa, beleeuest thou the Prophets? I know that thou beleeuest.

28Then Agrippa saide vnto Paul, Almost thou perswadest mee to bee a Christian.

29And Paul said, I would to God, that not onely thou, but also all that heare mee this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

30And when hee had thus spoken, the king rose vp, and the gouernour, and Bernice, & they that sate with them.

31And when they were gone aside, they talked betweene themselues, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death, or of bonds.

32Then said Agrippa vnto Festus, This man might haue bene set at libertie, if he had not appealed vnto Cesar.

 

1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You may now speak on your own behalf." So Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense. 2 "I count myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am to defend myself before you today against all the charges made against me by the Jews, 3 especially since you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and controversies. And therefore I beg you to listen patiently. 4 My manner of living from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my people and in Jerusalem, all (the) Jews know. 5 They have known about me from the start, if they are willing to testify, that I have lived my life as a Pharisee, the strictest party of our religion. 6 But now I am standing trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors. 7 Our twelve tribes hope to attain to that promise as they fervently worship God day and night; and on account of this hope I am accused by Jews, O king. 8 Why is it thought unbelievable among you that God raises the dead? 9 I myself once thought that I had to do many things against the name of Jesus the Nazorean, 10 and I did so in Jerusalem. I imprisoned many of the holy ones with the authorization I received from the chief priests, and when they were to be put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 Many times, in synagogue after synagogue, I punished them in an attempt to force them to blaspheme; I was so enraged against them that I pursued them even to foreign cities. 12 "On one such occasion I was traveling to Damascus with the authorization and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, along the way, O king, I saw a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my traveling companions. 14 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 hard for you to kick against the goad.' 15 And I said, 'Who are you, sir?' And the Lord replied, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 Get up now, and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness of what you have seen (of me) and what you will be shown. 17 I shall deliver you from this people and from the Gentiles to whom I send you, 18 to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may obtain forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been consecrated by faith in me.' 19 "And so, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. 20 On the contrary, first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem and throughout the whole country of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached the need to repent and turn to God, and to do works giving evidence of repentance. 21 That is why the Jews seized me (when I was) in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 But I have enjoyed God's help to this very day, and so I stand here testifying to small and great alike, saying nothing different from what the prophets and Moses foretold, 23 that the Messiah must suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles." 24 While Paul was so speaking in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "You are mad, Paul; much learning is driving you mad." 25 But Paul replied, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and reason. 26 The king knows about these matters and to him I speak boldly, for I cannot believe that (any) of this has escaped his notice; this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you believe." 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You will soon persuade me to play the Christian." 29 Paul replied, "I would pray to God that sooner or later not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am except for these chains." 30 Then the king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and the others who sat with them. 31 And after they had withdrawn they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing (at all) that deserves death or imprisonment." 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."

v1. The king grants Paul the privilege of a hearing. It was customary for orators to stretch forth the right hand with the two lower fingers shut in the palm, with the other fingers extended. This was used to show the earnestness of the speaker and to call a group to attention.
v2,3. In his introduction Paul expressed gladness for this opportunity because he knew Agrippa was well versed in Jewish customs. He knew this would take time to tell.
v4,5. Paul states his godly background (Phil. 3:5,6) which enemies should have confirmed.
v6. Promises in Law, prophets and Psalms and declared by Christ, Lk. 24:44.
v7.  His mention of hope for the twelve tribes refutes some such as British-Israelism and their so called ten lost tribes of Israel. Israel’s hope would have to involve resurrection from the dead. Pharisees believed in resurrection but not Christ’s.
v8. Agrippa should have some acknowledgment of the belief in resurrection.
v9-12. He reviews how he had persecuted Christians. Acts 8:1; 9:1,2, and forced some of them to blaspheme, ie. recant their faith in Christ. The Apostle Paul was married at one time or he could not have cast a vote in the Sanhedrin as he did in V 10. The Greek for voice is also a pebble. Some take this to mean that when the vote was cast, he put in a black pebble instead of white to indicate he was voting for execution.
v13-18. He reviews his experience on the road to Damascus, Acts 9:3-7. Paul had performed the commission he was given by the chief priests and describes in more detail than when talking to the Jews. As those Gentiles, v18, needed light, so  today when one becomes saved they are turned from darkness to light. See John 3:19-21. (illus. of my unsaved friend who saw the message of “Light” on the church flannel board and said “That’s what I need is light”, and received Christ as his Savior.) Four purposes: Turn from darkness to light, from Satan to God, receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance.
v19-21. He explains in a general overview how he has been obedient to the Lord in witnessing, and it is for his message that the Jews want to kill him.
v22,23. Paul states he is continuing in that, and the heart of his message is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
v24. With Festus’ Greek background he would have thought resurrection was impossible, so he shouted that Paul’s education had made him go off his rocker.
v25,26. Paul speaks respectfully to Festus as he declares his sanity, then turns to the king for confirmation because he had a greater awareness of both Jewish and Christian beliefs and activities.
v27. Even as Paul asks this question he knows the answer. The king believes these things and is yet unsaved.
v28,29. Being put on the spot, the king answers, whether sincerely or lightly with a question of his own. (The NIV has a better translation.) “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”  The king may not have been on the brink of salvation as KJV might imply.  Paul wished the king and all others could be like him in relationship to God, but not in prison chains.
v30,31. The discussion, if not conviction, is over and they now turn to business. The Pharisees, the chief captain Claudius Lysius, Festus, and now Agrippa and those with him all agree that Paul had done nothing that warranted death or imprisonment.
v32. It would seem they could have set him at liberty, but the legal system apparently required that if an appeal was made to Caesar, lower courts could neither condemn or release the subject. God is going to get Paul to Rome and he is going to be a witness all the way. As stated before, God warned him of coming bondage, but it was God’s will that through this Paul would witness to kings and others, high and low.