26:1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You may speak in your defense.' So Paul, with a gesture of his hand, started his defense:
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 1 , Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You may speak in your defense.' So Paul, with a gesture of his hand, started his defense:
26:2 'I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders,
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 2 , 'I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders,
26:3 for I know you are an expert on Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 3 , for I know you are an expert on Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!
26:4 'As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 4 , 'As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem.
26:5 If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 5 , If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.
26:6 Now I am on trial because I am looking forward to the fulfillment of God's promise made to our ancestors.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 6 , Now I am on trial because I am looking forward to the fulfillment of God's promise made to our ancestors.
26:7 In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, O king, they say it is wrong for me to have this hope!
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 7 , In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, O king, they say it is wrong for me to have this hope!
26:8 Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 8 , Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?
26:9 'I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the followers of Jesus of Nazareth.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 9 , 'I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the followers of Jesus of Nazareth.
26:10 Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many of the believers in Jerusalem to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 10 , Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many of the believers in Jerusalem to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death.
26:11 Many times I had them whipped in the synagogues to try to get them to curse Christ. I was so violently opposed to them that I even hounded them in distant cities of foreign lands.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 11 , Many times I had them whipped in the synagogues to try to get them to curse Christ. I was so violently opposed to them that I even hounded them in distant cities of foreign lands.
26:12 'One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 12 , 'One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests.
26:13 About noon, Your Majesty, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 13 , About noon, Your Majesty, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions.
26:14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, `Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to fight against my will.'
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 14 , We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, `Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to fight against my will.'
26:15 ' `Who are you, sir?' I asked. 'And the Lord replied, `I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 15 , ' `Who are you, sir?' I asked. 'And the Lord replied, `I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.
26:16 Now stand up! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and my witness. You are to tell the world about this experience and about other times I will appear to you.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 16 , Now stand up! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and my witness. You are to tell the world about this experience and about other times I will appear to you.
26:17 And I will protect you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am going to send you to the Gentiles,
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 17 , And I will protect you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am going to send you to the Gentiles,
26:18 to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in me.'
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 18 , to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in me.'
26:19 'And so, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to that vision from heaven.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 19 , 'And so, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to that vision from heaven.
26:20 I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must turn from their sins and turn to God--and prove they have changed by the good things they do.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 20 , I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must turn from their sins and turn to God--and prove they have changed by the good things they do.
26:21 Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 21 , Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me.
26:22 But God protected me so that I am still alive today to tell these facts to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen--
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 22 , But God protected me so that I am still alive today to tell these facts to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen--
26:23 that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead as a light to Jews and Gentiles alike.'
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 23 , that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead as a light to Jews and Gentiles alike.'
26:24 Suddenly, Festus shouted, 'Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!'
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 24 , Suddenly, Festus shouted, 'Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!'
26:25 But Paul replied, 'I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. I am speaking the sober truth.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 25 , But Paul replied, 'I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. I am speaking the sober truth.
26:26 And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak frankly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner!
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 26 , And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak frankly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner!
26:27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do--'
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 27 , King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do--'
26:28 Agrippa interrupted him. 'Do you think you can make me a Christian so quickly?'
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 28 , Agrippa interrupted him. 'Do you think you can make me a Christian so quickly?'
26:29 Paul replied, 'Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.'
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 29 , Paul replied, 'Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.'
26:30 Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left.
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 30 , Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left.
26:31 As they talked it over they agreed, 'This man hasn't done anything worthy of death or imprisonment.'
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 31 , As they talked it over they agreed, 'This man hasn't done anything worthy of death or imprisonment.'
26:32 And Agrippa said to Festus, 'He could be set free if he hadn't appealed to Caesar!'
The NLT Book of Acts , Chapter 26 , Verse 32 , And Agrippa said to Festus, 'He could be set free if he hadn't appealed to Caesar!'
