13And after certain days, Agrippa the king, and Bernice, came to Cæsarea to salute Festus. 14And as they were spending some days there, Festus laid the case of Paul before the king, saying: There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix; 15about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews made complaint, asking for judgment against him. 16To whom I answered: It is not a custom for Romans to give up any man, before the accused has the accusers face to face, and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
17When, therefore, they had come together here, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth; 18and standing up around him, the accusers brought no accusation of such things as I supposed; 19but had certain controversies with him concerning their own religion, and concerning a certain Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20And I, being perplexed in regard to the dispute about these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning them. 21But Paul having appealed, to be kept in custody for the decision of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept until I shall send him up to Cæsar.
22And Agrippa said to Festus: I would also hear the man myself. To-morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
23On the morrow, therefore, Agrippa and Bernice having come with great pomp, and entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at Festus' command Paul was brought forth. 24And Festus said: King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews interceded with me, both at Jerusalem and here, Crying out that he ought not to live any longer. 25But having found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and he himself having appealed to Augustus, I determined to send him. 26Of whom I have nothing certain to write to my lord. Wherefore I brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, in order that, the examination having been made, I may have something to write. 27For it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not also signify the charges against him.
XXVI. And Agrippa said to Paul: Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself before thee this day, concerning all things whereof I am accused by Jews; 3especially since thou art expert in all the customs and questions among Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4My manner of life, therefore, from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all Jews know; 5having known me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. 6And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to the fathers; 7unto which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving day and night, hope to attain; concerning which hope, O king, I am accused by Jews.
8Why is it judged incredible with you, if God, raises the dead?
9I therefore thought to myself, that I ought to do many hostile things against the name of Jesus the Nazarene. 10Which I also did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints did I myself shut up in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11And punishing them often, throughout all the synagogues, I constrained them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them also unto foreign cities.
12Whereupon, as I went to Damascus with authority and a commission from the chief priests, 13at midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14And we all having fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying 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? And he said: I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. 16But arise, and stand upon thy feet; for I appeared to thee for this purpose, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things which thou sawest, and of the things in which I will appear to thee; 17delivering thee from the people, and the Gentiles, to whom I send thee, 18to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may obtain forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among the sanctified, by faith in me.