who came down from Jerusalem stood around, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I committed any offence.
9 But Festus, willing to do the Jews a favour, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these things before me?
10 Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
11 For if I am an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there is none of these things of which these accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.
12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed to Caesar? to Caesar thou shalt go.
13 And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to greet Festus.
14 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause to the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
16 To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before he who is accused hath the accusers face to face, and hath opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge laid against him.
17 Therefore, when they had come here, without any delay on the next day I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.
18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation of such things as I supposed:
19 But had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
20 And because I was perplexed concerning such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged concerning these matters. [1]
21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved to the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. [2]
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.
23 And on the next day, when Agrippa had come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and had entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought forth.
24 And 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 have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
26 Of whom I have no certain thing to write to my lord. Therefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I may have somewhat to write.
27 For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not also to signify the charges laid against him.
CHAP. 26.
Then Agrippa said to Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews:
3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: therefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among my own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5 Who knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most strict sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers:
7 To which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. [3]
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them .
11 And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
12 Upon which as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At noon, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, beyond the brightness of the sun, shining around me and them who journeyed with me.
14 And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the goads.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of the things which thou hast seen, and of the things in which I will appear to thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them who are sanctified by
