Thematic Bible
Acts 26:1 (show verse)
Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
Acts 26:2 (show verse)
"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,
Acts 26:3 (show verse)
because you are especially familiar with all customs and controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
Acts 26:4 (show verse)
So then, all the Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem.
Acts 26:5 (show verse)
They have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.
Acts 26:6 (show verse)
And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers;
Acts 26:7 (show verse)
the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews.
Acts 26:8 (show verse)
Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
Acts 26:9 (show verse)
I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts 26:10 (show verse)
And that is just what I did in Jerusalem; I not only shut up many of the saints in prison, by authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.
Acts 26:11 (show verse)
And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Acts 26:12 (show verse)
"On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
Acts 26:13 (show verse)
At midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.
Acts 26:14 (show verse)
And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
Acts 26:15 (show verse)
And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
Acts 26:16 (show verse)
But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness to the things which you have seen of me, and also to the things in which I will appear to you;
Acts 26:17 (show verse)
rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,
Acts 26:18 (show verse)
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
Acts 26:19 (show verse)
"So, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
Acts 26:20 (show verse)
but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance.
Acts 26:21 (show verse)
For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
Acts 26:22 (show verse)
To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen:
Acts 26:23 (show verse)
that the Christ must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles."
Acts 26:24 (show verse)
And as he was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, "Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad."
Acts 26:25 (show verse)
But Paul said, "I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth.
Acts 26:26 (show verse)
For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner.
No Themes for this verse.
Acts 26:27 (show verse)
King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do."
Acts 26:28 (show verse)
And Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time you think to persuade me to become a Christian!"
Acts 26:29 (show verse)
And Paul said, "Whether in a short or a long time, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I amexcept for these chains."
Acts 26:30 (show verse)
The king rose and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them,
Acts 26:31 (show verse)
and when they had gone aside, they began talking to one another, saying, "This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment."
Acts 26:32 (show verse)
And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."