1Then Agrippa said to Paul, It is permitted thee to speak for thyself. 2And Paul, stretching forth his hand, made his defence. I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am this day to make my defence before thee, concerning all those things whereof I am accused by the Jews, 3Who art accurately acquainted with all the customs and questions which are among the Jews, wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. 4The manner of my life from my youth which was from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, 5all the Jews know, Who knew me from the first, (if they would testify) that I lived a Pharisee, after the strictest sect of our religion. 6And now I stand in judgment, for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers: 7To which our twelve tribes, worshiping continually night and day, hope to attain: concerning which hope, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8What? Is it judged by you an incredible thing, that God should raise the dead? 9I indeed thought myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth: 10Which also I did in Jerusalem: and having received authority from the chief priests, I shut up many of the saints in prisons, and when they were killed, I gave my vote against them. 11And frequently punishing them in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. 12Whereupon as I was going to Damascus, 13with authority and commission from the chief priests, At mid-day, O king, I saw in the way, a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round me and them that journeyed with me. 14And when we were all fallen down to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads. 15And I said, Who art thou, Lord? 16And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise and stand upon thy feet; for I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to ordain thee a minister and a witness, both of the things which thou hast seen, 17and of those in which I will appear to thee, Delivering thee from the people, 18and the Gentiles, to whom I now send thee, To open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; that they may receive through faith which is in me, forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified. 19From that time, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20But first to them at Damascus and at Jerusalem, and through all the country of Judea, and then to the Gentiles I declare, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 21For these things the Jews seizing me in the temple, attempted to kill me with their own hands. 22But having obtained help from God, I continue till this day, testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what both the prophets and Moses have declared should be, 23That the Christ having suffered, and being the first who rose from the dead, should shew light to the people and to the Gentiles. 24And as he was thus making his defence, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself, much learning doth make thee mad. 25But he said, I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but utter the words of truth and sobriety. 26For the king knoweth of these things; to whom also I speak with freedom; for I am persuaded none of these things are hidden from him; for this was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, Believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 29And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but likewise all that hear me, were this day both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. 30And as he said this, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them. 31And as they were going away, they spake one to another, saying, This man doth nothing worthy of death, or of bonds. 32And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cesar.