Acts 26:1-20

Acts 26:1-20

[1] Then  Agrippa  said  unto  Paul,  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  touching  all the things  whereof  I am accused  of  the Jews:  [3] Especially  expert  in all  customs  and  questions  which are among  the Jews:  wherefore  I beseech  to hear  patiently.  [4] manner  of life  from  my youth,  which  was  at  the first  among  own nation  at  Jerusalem,  all  the Jews;  [5] Which knew  from the beginning,  if  they would  testify,  that  after  the most straitest  sect  of our  religion  I lived  a Pharisee.  [6] And  now  I stand  and am judged  for  the hope  of the promise  made  of  God  our fathers:  [7] Unto  which  twelve tribes,  instantly  serving  God day  and  night,  hope  to come.  For  which  hope's sake,  king  I am accused  of  the Jews.  [8] Why  should it be thought a thing  incredible  with  that  God  should raise  the dead?  [9] verily  thought  with myself,  that I ought  to do  many things  contrary  to  the name  of Jesus  of Nazareth.  [10] Which thing  also  did  in  Jerusalem:  and  many  of the saints  shut up  in prison,  having received  authority  from  the chief priests;  and  when they  were put to death,  I gave  my voice  [11] And  I punished  them  oft  in  every  synagogue,  and compelled  them to blaspheme;  and  exceedingly  mad against  them,  I persecuted  them even  unto  strange  cities.  [12] Whereupon  as I went  to  Damascus  with  authority  and  commission  the chief priests,  [13] At midday,  O king,  in  the way  a light  from heaven,  above  the brightness  of the sun,  shining round about  and  them which journeyed  with  [14] all  fallen  to  the earth,  I heard  a voice  unto  saying  in the Hebrew  tongue,  Saul,  why  persecutest thou  it is hard  to kick  against  the pricks.  [15] And  said,  Who  Lord?  And  he said,  am  Jesus  whom  thou  persecutest.  [16] But  rise,  and  stand  upon  feet:  for  for  to make  a minister  and  a witness  both  of these things which  and  of those things in the which  [17] Delivering  from  the people,  and  from the Gentiles,  unto  whom  I send  [18] To open  their  eyes,  and to turn  them from  darkness  to  light,  and  from the power  of Satan  unto  God,  that they  may receive  forgiveness  of sins,  and  inheritance  among  them which are sanctified  by faith  that is in  [19] Whereupon,  O king  Agrippa,  I was  not  disobedient  unto the heavenly  vision:  [20] But  shewed  first  unto them of  Damascus,  and  at Jerusalem,  and  all  the coasts  of Judaea,  and  then to the Gentiles,  that they should repent  and  turn  to  God,  and do  works  meet  for repentance.