1 Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, to make my defense before you today against all the accusations the Jews bring against me, 3 especially since you are familiar with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 All the Jews know how I have lived since my youth, from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me from the start and, if they are willing, can testify that I lived as a Pharisee, according to the strictest party of our religion. 6 And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 which our twelve tribes hope to attain as they worship earnestly night and day. It is for this hope that I am accused by the Jews, O king. 8 Why is it judged incredible among you that God raises the dead? 9 I myself thought I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority received from the chief priests, I locked many of the saints in prisons, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 I often punished them in all the synagogues and tried to force them to blaspheme. In my extreme rage against them, I pursued them even to foreign cities. 12 While engaged in this, I was traveling to Damascus with authority and a commission from the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, on the road I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me. 14 When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen of me and of the things in which I will appear to you, 17 rescuing you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but proclaimed first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 But having obtained help from God, I stand to this day bearing witness to small and great alike, saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen: 23 that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.” 24 As he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you mad.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. I speak words of truth and sound judgment. 26 For the king knows about these things, and I speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 Agrippa said to Paul, “In so short a time are you persuading me to become a Christian?” 29 Paul said, “I pray to God that, whether in a short time or a long time, not only you but all who hear me today might become as I am, except for these bonds.” 30 Then the king rose, along with the governor, Bernice, and those sitting with them. 31 As they withdrew, they spoke with one another, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving death or imprisonment.” 32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”