Paul’s Testimony to Agrippa (Acts 9:1–19; Acts 22:1–21)
1 CPDV Yet truly, Agrippa said to Paul, “It is permitted for you to speak for yourself.” Then Paul, extending his hand, began to offer his defense. BSB BSB: Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
2 CPDV “I consider myself blessed, O king Agrippa, that I am to give my defense today before you, about everything of which I am accused by the Jews, BSB BSB: “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews,
3 CPDV especially since you know everything that pertains to the Jews, both customs and questions. Because of this, I beg you to listen to me patiently. BSB BSB: especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.
4 CPDV And certainly, all the Jews know about my life from my youth, which had its beginning among my own people in Jerusalem. BSB BSB: Surely all the Jews know how I have lived from my earliest childhood among my own people, and also in Jerusalem.
5 CPDV They knew me well from the beginning, (if they would be willing to offer testimony) for I lived according to the most determined sect of our religion: as a Pharisee. BSB BSB: They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion.
6 CPDV And now, it is in the hope of the Promise which was made by God to our fathers that I stand subject to judgment. BSB BSB: And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers,
7 CPDV It is the Promise that our twelve tribes, worshiping night and day, hope to see. About this hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews. BSB BSB: the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews.
8 CPDV Why should it be judged so unbelievable with you all that God might raise the dead? BSB BSB: Why would any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9 CPDV And certainly, I myself formerly considered that I ought to act in many ways which are contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. BSB BSB: So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 CPDV This is also how I acted at Jerusalem. And so, I enclosed many holy persons in prison, having received authority from the leaders of the priests. And when they were to be killed, I brought the sentence. BSB BSB: And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.
11 CPDV And in every synagogue, frequently while punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme. And being all the more maddened against them, I persecuted them, even to foreign cities. BSB BSB: I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
12 CPDV Thereafter, as I was going to Damascus, with authority and permission from the high priest, BSB BSB: In this pursuit I was on my way to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
13 CPDV at midday, O king, I and those who were also with me, saw along the way a light from heaven shining around me with a splendor greater than that of the sun. BSB BSB: About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions.
14 CPDV And when we had all fallen down to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.’ BSB BSB: We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 CPDV Then I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. BSB BSB: ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.
16 CPDV But rise up and stand on your feet. For I appeared to you for this reason: so that I may establish you as a minister and a witness concerning the things that you have seen, and concerning the things that I will show to you: BSB BSB: ‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you.
17 CPDV rescuing you from the people and the nations to which I am now sending you, BSB BSB: I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
18 CPDV in order to open their eyes, so that they may be converted from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive the remission of sins and a place among the saints, through the faith that is in me.’ BSB BSB: to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
19 CPDV From then on, O king Agrippa, I was not unbelieving to the heavenly vision. BSB BSB: So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
20 CPDV But I preached, first to those who are at Damascus and at Jerusalem, and then to the entire region of Judea, and to the Gentiles, so that they would repent and convert to God, doing the works that are worthy of repentance. BSB BSB: First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.
21 CPDV It was for this reason that the Jews, having apprehended me when I was in the temple, attempted to kill me. BSB BSB: For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.
22 CPDV But having been aided by the help of God, even to this day, I stand witnessing to the small and the great, saying nothing beyond what the Prophets and Moses have said would be in the future: BSB BSB: But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:
23 CPDV that the Christ would suffer, and that he would be the first from the resurrection of the dead, and that he would bring light to the people and to the nations.” BSB BSB: that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”
Festus Interrupts Paul’s Defense 26 CPDV For the king knows about these things. To him also, I am speaking with constancy. For I think that none of these things are unknown to him. And neither were these things done in a corner. BSB BSB: For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him. I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.
27 CPDV Do you believe the Prophets, O king Agrippa? I know that you believe.” BSB BSB: King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 CPDV Then Agrippa said to Paul, “To some extent, you persuade me to become a Christian.” BSB BSB: Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”
29 CPDV And Paul said, “I hope to God that, both to a small extent and to a great extent, not only you, but also all those who hear me this day will become just as I also am, except for these chains.” BSB BSB: “Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”
30 CPDV And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them. BSB BSB: Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them.
31 CPDV And when they had withdrawn, they were speaking among themselves, saying, “This man has done nothing worthy of death, nor of imprisonment.” BSB BSB: On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”
32 CPDV Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released, if he had not appealed to Caesar.” BSB BSB: And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.