Acts 2626ActsPaul's arrest and journey to RomeYoung’s Literal Translation

Young’s Literal TranslationBerean Standard Bible

1. Paul’s Testimony to Agrippa

   (Acts 9:1–19; Acts 22:1–21)

2. 1YLTAnd Agrippa said unto Paul, 'It is permitted to thee to speak for thyself;' then Paul having stretched forth the hand, was making a defence:BSBBSB: Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
3. 2YLT'Concerning all things of which I am accused by Jews, king Agrippa, I have thought myself happy, being about to make a defence before thee to-day,BSBBSB: “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews,
4. 3YLTespecially knowing thee to be acquainted with all things — both customs and questions — among Jews; wherefore, I beseech thee, patiently to hear me.BSBBSB: especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.
5. 4YLT'The manner of my life then, indeed, from youth — which from the beginning was among my nation, in Jerusalem — know do all the Jews,BSBBSB: Surely all the Jews know how I have lived from my earliest childhood among my own people, and also in Jerusalem.
6. 5YLTknowing me before from the first, (if they may be willing to testify,) that after the most exact sect of our worship, I lived a Pharisee;BSBBSB: 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.
7. 6YLTand now for the hope of the promise made to the fathers by God, I have stood judged,BSBBSB: And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers,
8. 7YLTto which our twelve tribes, intently night and day serving, do hope to come, concerning which hope I am accused, king Agrippa, by the Jews;BSBBSB: 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.
9. 8YLTwhy is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?BSBBSB: Why would any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
10. 9YLT'I, indeed, therefore, thought with myself, that against the name of Jesus of Nazareth it behoved me many things to do,BSBBSB: So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
11. 10YLTwhich also I did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I in prison did shut up, from the chief priests having received the authority; they also being put to death, I gave my vote against them,BSBBSB: 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.
12. 11YLTand in every synagogue, often punishing them, I was constraining them to speak evil, being also exceedingly mad against them, I was also persecuting them even unto strange cities.BSBBSB: 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.
13. 12YLT'In which things, also, going on to Damascus — with authority and commission from the chief priests —BSBBSB: In this pursuit I was on my way to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
14. 13YLTat mid-day, I saw in the way, O king, out of heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me a light — and those going on with me;BSBBSB: 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.
15. 14YLTand we all having fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute? hard for thee against pricks to kick!BSBBSB: 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.’
16. 15YLT'And I said, Who art thou, Lord? and he said, I am Jesus whom thou dost persecute;BSBBSB: ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.
17. 16YLTbut rise, and stand upon thy feet, for for this I appeared to thee, to appoint thee an officer and a witness both of the things thou didst see, and of the things in which I will appear to thee,BSBBSB: ‘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.
18. 17YLTdelivering thee from the people, and the nations, to whom now I send thee,BSBBSB: I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
19. 18YLTto open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the authority of the Adversary unto God, for their receiving forgiveness of sins, and a lot among those having been sanctified, by faith that is toward me.BSBBSB: 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.’
20. 19YLT'Whereupon, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,BSBBSB: So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
21. 20YLTbut to those in Damascus first, and to those in Jerusalem, to all the region also of Judea, and to the nations, I was preaching to reform, and to turn back unto God, doing works worthy of reformation;BSBBSB: 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.
22. 21YLTbecause of these things the Jews — having caught me in the temple — were endeavouring to kill me.BSBBSB: For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.
23. 22YLT'Having obtained, therefore, help from God, till this day, I have stood witnessing both to small and to great, saying nothing besides the things that both the prophets and Moses spake of as about to come,BSBBSB: 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:
24. 23YLTthat the Christ is to suffer, whether first by a rising from the dead, he is about to proclaim light to the people and to the nations.'BSBBSB: that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

25. Festus Interrupts Paul’s Defense

26. 24YLTAnd, he thus making a defence, Festus with a loud voice said, 'Thou art mad, Paul; much learning doth turn thee mad;'BSBBSB: At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”
27. 25YLTand he saith, 'I am not mad, most noble Festus, but of truth and soberness the sayings I speak forth;BSBBSB: But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.
28. 26YLTfor the king doth know concerning these things, before whom also I speak boldly, for none of these things, I am persuaded, are hidden from him; for this thing hath not been done in a corner;BSBBSB: 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.
29. 27YLTthou dost believe, king Agrippa, the prophets? I have known that thou dost believe!'BSBBSB: King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
30. 28YLTAnd Agrippa said unto Paul, 'In a little thou dost persuade me to become a Christian!'BSBBSB: Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”
31. 29YLTand Paul said, 'I would have wished to God, both in a little, and in much, not only thee, but also all those hearing me to-day, to become such as I also am — except these bonds.'BSBBSB: “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.”
32. 30YLTAnd, he having spoken these things, the king rose up, and the governor, Bernice also, and those sitting with them,BSBBSB: Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them.
33. 31YLTand having withdrawn, they were speaking unto one another, saying — 'This man doth nothing worthy of death or of bonds;'BSBBSB: On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”
34. 32YLTand Agrippa said to Festus, 'This man might have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.'BSBBSB: And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”