1
And Agrippa said to Paulos: “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paulos, stretching out his hand, made his defense:
2
“Concerning all things of which I am accused by the Yehudim, King Agrippa, I consider myself blessed to make my defense before you today,
3
especially because you are knowledgeable concerning all the customs and disputes among the Yehudim. Therefore I ask you to hear me patiently.
4
Indeed, my manner of life from youth, which from the beginning was among my own nation and in Yerushalayim, all the Yehudim know.
5
They knew me from the beginning, if they desire to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our worship I lived as a Perushi.
6
And now I stand being judged for the hope of the promise made by Elohim to our fathers,
7
toward which our twelve tribes, serving earnestly night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope, O king, I am accused by the Yehudim.
8
Why is it judged unbelievable among you if Elohim raises the dead?
9
I myself indeed thought it necessary to do many hostile things against the Name of Yahushua the Natzri.
10
And this I did in Yerushalayim, and many of the set-apart ones I shut in prisons, having received authority from the chief kohenim. And when they were being killed, I cast my vote against them.
11
And throughout all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to compel them to revile, and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
12
In this, as I traveled toward Damascus with authority and commission from the chief kohenim,
13
at midday, O king, I saw along the road a light from the heavens, beyond the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me.
14
And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Ivrit tongue: ‘Sha’ul, Sha’ul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15
And I said: ‘Who are you, Master?’ And the Master said: ‘I am Yahushua, whom you persecute.
16
But rise and stand upon your feet, for toward this I appeared to you: to appoint you a servant and witness both of the things you have seen and of the things in which I shall appear to you,
17
delivering you from the people and from the nations to whom I send you,
18
to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness toward light, and from the authority of the adversary toward Elohim, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an Inheritance among those set apart through trust in me.’
19
Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20
but first to those in Damascus, and Yerushalayim, and throughout all the region of Yehudah, and then to the nations, I proclaimed that they should repent and turn toward Elohim, doing works worthy of repentance.
21
Because of these things, some Yehudim, seizing me in the House, attempted to kill me.
22
Therefore, having obtained help from Elohim, until this day I stand testifying both to small and great, saying nothing outside what the prophets and Mosheh said was about to happen:
23
that the Anointed would suffer, and being first from resurrection of the dead, would proclaim light both to the people and to the nations.”
24
And as he made his defense with these things, Festus said with a great voice: “Paulos, you are mad. Much learning is turning you toward madness.”
25
But Paulos said: “I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but speak words of truth and sound judgment.
26
For the king knows concerning these things, to whom also I speak boldly, for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this was not done in a corner.
27
King Agrippa, do you trust the prophets? I know that you trust.”
28
And Agrippa said to Paulos: “In so little time you would persuade me to become an Anointed-one?”
29
And Paulos said: “I would petition Elohim that whether in little or in much, not only you but also all who hear me today might become such as I am— except for these chains.”
30
And the king rose, and the governor, and Bernike, and those sitting with them.
31
And withdrawing, they spoke to one another, saying: “This ish does nothing worthy of death or chains.”
32
And Agrippa said to Festus: “This ish could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”