26:1 Then Agrippa said unto Paulos, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paulos stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
26:2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Yehudim:
26:3 Especially [because I know] thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Yehudim: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
26:4 My manner of chayim from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Yerushalayim, know all the Yehudim;
26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Parush.
26:6 And now I stand and am judged for the Tikvah of the promise made of Elohim unto our fathers:
26:7 Unto which [promise] our Sheneym Asar Shevateinu (twelve tribes), instantly serving [Elohim] day and night, Tikvah to come. For which Tikvah's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Yehudim.
26:8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that Elohim should raise the dead?
(Act 9:1-19; Acts 22:1-16; Acts 26:9-18)
26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Yeshua (ישוע) Natzeret.
26:10 Which thing I also did in Yerushalayim: and many of the Kidushim did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief Kohanim; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against [them].
26:11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled [them] to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted [them] even unto strange cities.
Paulos Proclaim to King Agrippa
26:12 Whereupon as I went to Demeshek with authority and commission from the chief Kohanim,
26:13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
26:14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Shaul, Shaul, why persecutest thou me? [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
26:15 And I said, Who art thou, Adonay? And he said, Ani Yeshua (ישוע) whom thou persecutest.
26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and [from] the Goyim, unto whom now I send thee,
26:18 To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of satan unto Elohim, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by emunah that is in me.
26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
26:20 But shewed first unto them of Demeshek, and at Yerushalayim, and throughout all the coasts of Yehudah, and [then] to the Goyim, that they should repent and turn to Elohim, and do works meet for teshuvah.
26:21 For these causes the Yehudim caught me in Beit HaMikdash, and went about to kill [me].
26:22 Having therefore obtained help of Elohim, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which Ha Neviim and Mosheh did say should come:
26:23 That Moshiach should suffer, [and] that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Goyim.
26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Phetos said with a loud voice, Paulos, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Phetos; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26:26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
26:27 King Agrippa, believest thou Ha Neviim? I know that thou believest.
26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paulos, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Messianic Believer.
26:29 And Paulos said, I would to Elohim, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
26:30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
26:31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
26:32 Then said Agrippa unto Phetos, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Kaisar.