Then Festus, after conferring with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed to Cæsar? to Cæsar shalt thou go.
13Now when some days were passed, Agrippa and Bernice came to Cæsarea to salute Festus. 14And as their stay there was extended to a considerable time, Festus communicated to the king Paul’s affairs, saying, There is a certain man left by Felix, a prisoner: 15against whom when I was at Jerusalem, the high-priest and the elders of the Jews appeared, desiring judgment against him. 16To whom I replied, That it was not customary for Romans to give up any man gratuitously to destruction, before that the person accused should have his accusers produced face to face, and be allowed opportunity to defend himself against the charge. 17When therefore they were come here together, making no demur, the very next day I sat on the tribunal, and commanded the man to be brought. 18Against whom his accusers standing forth, brought no charge of such things as I expected: 19but only pleaded against him certain disputes about their own mode of religious worship, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20But being in doubt respecting a question of this sort, I demanded if he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things. 21But Paul appealing that he should be reserved for the cognizance of Augustus, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I should send him to Cæsar.
22Then Agrippa said to Festus, I wish also myself to hear the man. He said, To-morrow thou shalt hear him.
23On the morrow therefore, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with a very splendid retinue, and were entered into the place of audience, with the military tribunes, and the men of superior eminence in the city, then at the order of Festus Paul was produced.
24And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all you, sirs, who are present with us, behold the man, concerning whom the whole multitude of the Jews have set upon me, both at Jerusalem and in this place, clamouring that he ought not to live a moment longer. 25But finding on inquiry that he had done nothing worthy of death, and he himself indeed having appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. 26Respecting whom I have nothing determinate to write to my sovereign. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, king Agrippa, that on a fresh examination taken, I might have something to write. 27For it appears to me highly unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not also signify the charges against him.
[CHAP. XXVI.]
THEN Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching out his hand, began his defence: 2I count myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am about to address my defence to thee this day concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews: 3especially as thou art skilled both in all the customs, and questions which respect the Jews: wherefore I beg the favour of thee to hear me patiently.
4The manner of my life even from my youth, which from its beginning was spent amidst my own nation at Jerusalem, know indeed all the Jews; 5who previously knew me a long while ago, (if they chose to bear testimony,) that according to the most precise sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6And this moment for the hope of the promise made of God to our fathers am I standing here to be judged: 7which promise our twelve tribes, with fervour night and day worshipping God, hope to attain. For which hope, king Agrippa, I am criminated by the Jews.
8What! is it judged a thing incredible by you, that God should raise the dead?
9I indeed then thought in myself, that I ought to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarean. 10Which also I did at Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were killed, I gave my vote against them. 11And in every synagogue oftentimes punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly maddened with rage against them, I persecuted them even to the cities that are without. 12In which pursuits, even as I was going to Damascus with authority and a commission from the chief priests, 13at midday, O king, I saw on the road a light from heaven, beyond the splendour of the sun, shining around myself and those who were travelling with me. 14And as we were all fallen prostrate on the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is difficult for thee to kick against the goads. 15Then I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he replied, I am Jesus whom thou art persecuting. 16Notwithstanding, arise, and stand on thy feet: for to this end have I appeared to thee, to ordain thee both a minister and a witness of the things which thou hast seen, and of those which I will shew thee; 17delivering thee both from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send thee, 18to open their eyes, to convert them from darkness to light, and from the dominion of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins, and an inheritance with those who are sanctified by faith which is in me. 19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision: 20but preached first to those at Damascus, and Jerusalem, and to all the region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, practicing works worthy of repentance.