Paul's Testimony to Agrippa
(Acts 9:1-9; Acts 22:1-21)

1And Agrippa was saying to Paul, “It is permitted you to speak for yourself.”

Then Paul, having stretched out the hand, began his defense: 2“Concerning all of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I esteem myself fortunate before you, being about to defend myself today, 3you being especially acquainted with all the customs and also controversies of the Jews. Therefore I implore you to hear me patiently.

4Then indeed all the Jews know my manner of life which is from youth, having been from its beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, 5knowing me from the first, if they would be willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.

6And now I stand being judged for the hope of the promise having been made by God to our fathers, 7to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, serving in earnestness night and day, the hope concerning which I am accused by the Jews, O king. 8Why is it judged incredible by you if God raises the dead?

9Therefore I indeed in myself thought I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, 10which also I did in Jerusalem. And I also locked up many of the saints in prisons, having received the authority from the chief priests; and they being put to death, I cast against them a vote. 11And in all the synagogues, punishing them often, I was compelling them to blaspheme. And being exceedingly furious against them, I kept persecuting them even as far as to foreign cities, 12during which, journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13at midday on the road, O king, I saw, a light from heaven above, the brightness of the sun, having shone around me and those journeying with me. 14And of all of us having fallen down to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language,a ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

15Then I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’

And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16But rise up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you a servant and a witness both of that which you have seen of Me, and of the things in which I will appear to you, 17delivering you out from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you, 18to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those having been sanctified by faith in Me.’

19So then, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20but both first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, and all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, I kept declaring to repent and to turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 21On account of these things the Jews, having seized me being in the temple, were attempting to kill me.

22Therefore having obtained help from God unto this day, I have stood bearing witness both to small and to great, saying nothing other than what both the prophets and Moses said was about to happen: 23that Christ would suffer. As first through resurrection from the dead, He is about to preach light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Festus Interrupts Paul's Defense

24Now of him saying these things in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! The great learning turns you to insanity!”

25But Paul says, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus, but I speak words of truth and sobriety. 26For the king understands concerning these things, to whom also I speak using boldness. For I am persuaded none of these things are hidden from him, for none of these things is done in a corner. 27Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.”

28Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Within so little time do you persuade me to become a Christian?”

29Then Paul said, “I would wish anyhow to God, both in a little and in much, not only you but also all those hearing me this day to become such as I also am, except these chains.”

30Then the king and the governor rose up, and Bernice and those sitting with them, 31and having withdrawn, they began speaking to one another, saying, “This man is doing nothing worthy of death or of chains.”

32Then Agrippa was saying to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”