1 Agrippa|strong="G0067" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G4314" Paul|strong="G3972", “You|strong="G4771" may|strong="G5495" now|strong="G1161" speak|strong="G3004" to|strong="G4314" defend|strong="G0626" yourself|strong="G4572".” Paul|strong="G3972" raised his|strong="G4012" hand|strong="G5495" to|strong="G4314" get their|strong="G4012" attention and|strong="G1161" began to|strong="G4314" speak|strong="G3004".
2 He|strong="G3739" said|strong="G0626", “King|strong="G0935" Agrippa|strong="G0067", I|strong="G3739" feel fortunate|strong="G3107" that|strong="G3739" I|strong="G3739" can stand here before|strong="G1909" you|strong="G4771" today|strong="G4594" and|strong="G2453" answer all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" charges|strong="G1458" these|strong="G3739" Jews|strong="G2453" have|strong="G3956" made against|strong="G1909" me|strong="G1683".
3 I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" very|strong="G2532" happy to|strong="G2596" talk to|strong="G2596" you|strong="G4771", because|strong="G2596" you|strong="G4771" know so|strong="G2532" much about|strong="G2596" all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" Jewish|strong="G2453" customs|strong="G1485" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" things|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" Jews|strong="G2453" argue about|strong="G2596". Please listen|strong="G0191" to|strong="G2596" me|strong="G1473" patiently|strong="G3116".
4 “All|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" Jews|strong="G2453" know|strong="G1492" about|strong="G1722" my|strong="G3956" whole|strong="G3956" life|strong="G0981". They|strong="G3767" know|strong="G1492" the|strong="G3956" way|strong="G1722" I|strong="G1473" lived from|strong="G0575" the|strong="G3956" beginning|strong="G0746" in|strong="G1722" my|strong="G3956" own country and|strong="G5037" later in|strong="G1722" Jerusalem|strong="G2414".
5 These|strong="G3748" Jews have|strong="G3748" known|strong="G4267" me|strong="G1473" for|strong="G3754" a|strong="G1437" long|strong="G0509" time|strong="G0509". If|strong="G1437" they|strong="G3754" want|strong="G2309" to|strong="G2309", they|strong="G3754" can tell you|strong="G1437" that|strong="G3754" I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G3588" a|strong="G1437" good|strong="G3140" Pharisee|strong="G5330". And|strong="G5330" the|strong="G3588" Pharisees|strong="G5330" obey the|strong="G3588" laws of|strong="G2596" the|strong="G3588" Jewish religion|strong="G2356" more|strong="G2596" carefully than any|strong="G1437" other group.
6 Now|strong="G3568" I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G2919" on|strong="G1909" trial|strong="G2919" because|strong="G1909" I|strong="G1473" hope|strong="G1680" for|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" promise|strong="G1860" that|strong="G1096" God|strong="G2316" made|strong="G1096" to|strong="G1519" our|strong="G2316" fathers|strong="G3962".
7 This|strong="G3588" is|strong="G3739" the|strong="G3588" promise that|strong="G3739" all|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" twelve|strong="G1429" tribes|strong="G1429" of|strong="G2250" our|strong="G2532" people|strong="G3588" hope|strong="G1680" to|strong="G1519" receive. For|strong="G1519" this|strong="G3588" hope|strong="G1680" the|strong="G3588" Jews|strong="G2453" serve|strong="G3000" God|strong="G3571" day|strong="G2250" and|strong="G2532" night|strong="G3571". My|strong="G1722" king|strong="G0935", the|strong="G3588" Jews|strong="G2453" have|strong="G2532" accused|strong="G1458" me|strong="G1473" because|strong="G1722" I|strong="G1473" hope|strong="G1680" for|strong="G1519" this|strong="G3588" same|strong="G3739" promise.
8 Why|strong="G5101" do|strong="G2919" you|strong="G5210" people|strong="G2919" think|strong="G2919" it is|strong="G2316" impossible for|strong="G3844" God|strong="G2316" to|strong="G5101" raise|strong="G1453" people|strong="G2919" from|strong="G3844" death|strong="G3498"?
9 “I|strong="G1473" used to|strong="G4314" think|strong="G1380" that|strong="G1380" I|strong="G1473" should|strong="G1163" do|strong="G4238" everything I|strong="G1473" could against|strong="G4314" Jesus|strong="G2424" from|strong="G2424" Nazareth|strong="G3480".
10 And|strong="G2532" that’s what|strong="G3739" I|strong="G1473" did|strong="G4160", beginning in|strong="G1722" Jerusalem|strong="G2414". The|strong="G3588" leading priests|strong="G0749" gave|strong="G4160" me|strong="G1473" the|strong="G3588" authority|strong="G1849" to|strong="G2532" put|strong="G0337" many|strong="G4183" of|strong="G1722" God’s|strong="G0846" people|strong="G0846" in|strong="G1722" jail. And|strong="G2532" when|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" were|strong="G3739" being killed|strong="G0337", I|strong="G1473" agreed that|strong="G3739" it|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3739" a|strong="G2983" good thing|strong="G0846".
11 I|strong="G2532" visited all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" synagogues|strong="G4864" and|strong="G2532" punished|strong="G5097" them|strong="G0846", trying to|strong="G1519" make them|strong="G0846" curse Jesus|strong="G0846". My|strong="G3956" anger against|strong="G2596" these|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3956" was|strong="G3588" so|strong="G2532" strong that|strong="G3956" I|strong="G2532" went to|strong="G1519" other|strong="G1438" cities|strong="G4172" to|strong="G1519" find them|strong="G0846" and|strong="G2532" punish them|strong="G0846".
12 “One|strong="G3739" time the|strong="G3588" leading|strong="G1519" priests|strong="G0749" gave me permission and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" authority|strong="G1849" to|strong="G1519" go|strong="G4198" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" city of|strong="G1722" Damascus|strong="G1154".
13 On|strong="G5228" the|strong="G3588" way|strong="G3598" there|strong="G2596", at|strong="G2596" noon, I|strong="G1473" saw|strong="G3708" a|strong="G3708" light|strong="G5457" from|strong="G2596" heaven|strong="G3771", brighter|strong="G2987" than|strong="G5228" the|strong="G3588" sun|strong="G2246". It|strong="G3708" shined all|strong="G3588" around|strong="G4034" me|strong="G1473" and|strong="G2532" those|strong="G3588" traveling|strong="G4198" with|strong="G4862" me|strong="G1473".
14 We|strong="G2249" all|strong="G3956" fell|strong="G2667" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3956" ground|strong="G1093". Then|strong="G5037" I|strong="G1473" heard|strong="G0191" a|strong="G0191" voice|strong="G5456" talking|strong="G3004" to|strong="G1519" me|strong="G3004" in|strong="G1519" Aramaic. The|strong="G3956" voice|strong="G5456" said|strong="G3004", ‘Saul|strong="G4549", Saul|strong="G4549", why|strong="G5101" are|strong="G3956" you|strong="G4771" persecuting|strong="G1377" me|strong="G3004"? You|strong="G4771" are|strong="G3956" only|strong="G5037" hurting yourself|strong="G4771" by|strong="G3004" fighting me|strong="G3004".’
15 “I|strong="G1473" said|strong="G3004", ‘Who|strong="G3739" are|strong="G1510" you|strong="G4771", Lord|strong="G2962"?’
16 Stand|strong="G2476" up|strong="G0450"! I|strong="G1473" have|strong="G2532" chosen you|strong="G4771" to|strong="G1519" be|strong="G2532" my|strong="G3708" servant. You|strong="G4771" will|strong="G3739" tell people|strong="G3778" about|strong="G1909" me|strong="G1473"—what|strong="G3739" you|strong="G4771" have|strong="G2532" seen|strong="G3708" today and|strong="G2532" what|strong="G3739" I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G3739" show you|strong="G4771". This|strong="G3778" is|strong="G3778" why|strong="G1063" I|strong="G1473" have|strong="G2532" come|strong="G2476" to|strong="G1519" you|strong="G4771".
17 I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G3739" keep you|strong="G4771" safe from|strong="G1537" your|strong="G2532" own people|strong="G2992" and|strong="G2532" from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G3588" non-Jewish people|strong="G2992", the|strong="G3588" ones I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1473" sending|strong="G0649" you|strong="G4771" to|strong="G1519".
18 You|strong="G1722" will|strong="G2316" make|strong="G0037" them|strong="G0846" able to|strong="G1519" understand the|strong="G3588" truth. They|strong="G0846" will|strong="G2316" turn|strong="G1994" away|strong="G0575" from|strong="G0575" darkness|strong="G4655" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" light|strong="G5457". They|strong="G0846" will|strong="G2316" turn|strong="G1994" away|strong="G0575" from|strong="G0575" the|strong="G3588" power|strong="G1849" of|strong="G0575" Satan|strong="G4567", and|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" will|strong="G2316" turn|strong="G1994" to|strong="G1519" God|strong="G2316". Then|strong="G2532" their|strong="G0846" sins|strong="G0266" can be|strong="G2532" forgiven, and|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" can be|strong="G2532" given a|strong="G2983" place|strong="G1722" among|strong="G1722" God’s|strong="G2316" people|strong="G0846"—those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" have|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" made holy|strong="G0037" by|strong="G1722" believing|strong="G4102" in|strong="G1722" me|strong="G1473".’”
19 Paul continued speaking: “King|strong="G0935" Agrippa|strong="G0067", after|strong="G1096" I|strong="G3606" had|strong="G3588" this|strong="G3588" vision|strong="G3701" from|strong="G3588" heaven|strong="G3770", I|strong="G3606" obeyed it.
20 I|strong="G2532" began|strong="G1909" telling people|strong="G1484" to|strong="G1909" change their|strong="G2532" hearts and|strong="G2532" lives and|strong="G2532" turn|strong="G1994" back|strong="G1994" to|strong="G1909" God|strong="G2316". And|strong="G2532" I|strong="G2532" told|strong="G0518" them|strong="G1722" to|strong="G1909" do|strong="G4238" what|strong="G3588" would|strong="G1484" show that|strong="G3956" they|strong="G2532" had|strong="G2316" really changed. I|strong="G2532" went first|strong="G4413" to|strong="G1909" people|strong="G1484" in|strong="G1722" Damascus|strong="G1154". Then|strong="G2532" I|strong="G2532" went to|strong="G1909" Jerusalem|strong="G2414" and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G1909" every|strong="G3956" part of|strong="G2316" Judea|strong="G2449" and|strong="G2532" told|strong="G0518" the|strong="G3956" people|strong="G1484" there|strong="G1722". I|strong="G2532" also|strong="G2532" went to|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3956" non-Jewish people|strong="G1484".
21 “This|strong="G3778" is|strong="G1510" why the|strong="G3588" Jews|strong="G2453" grabbed me|strong="G1473" and|strong="G2453" were|strong="G1510" trying to|strong="G1722" kill me|strong="G1473" at|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G2413".
22 But|strong="G2532" God|strong="G2316" helped me|strong="G3004", and|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G2316" still|strong="G2476" helping me|strong="G3004" today|strong="G2250". With|strong="G2316" God’s|strong="G2316" help|strong="G1947" I|strong="G3739" am|strong="G3195" standing|strong="G2476" here today|strong="G2250" and|strong="G2532" telling|strong="G3004" all|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3778" what|strong="G3739" I|strong="G3739" have|strong="G2532" seen. But|strong="G2532" I|strong="G3739" am|strong="G3195" saying|strong="G3004" nothing|strong="G3762" new. I|strong="G3739" am|strong="G3195" saying|strong="G3004" only|strong="G2532" what|strong="G3739" Moses|strong="G3475" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" prophets|strong="G4396" said|strong="G3004" would|strong="G3195" happen|strong="G1096".
23 They|strong="G2532" said|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3498" the|strong="G3588" Messiah|strong="G5547" would|strong="G3195" die and|strong="G2532" be|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" first|strong="G4413" to|strong="G3195" rise|strong="G0386" from|strong="G1537" death|strong="G3498". They|strong="G2532" said|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3498" he|strong="G2532" would|strong="G3195" bring the|strong="G3588" light|strong="G5457" of|strong="G1537" God’s saving truth to|strong="G3195" the|strong="G3588" Jewish people|strong="G2992" and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G3195" the|strong="G3588" non-Jewish people|strong="G2992".”
24 While|strong="G0846" Paul|strong="G3972" was|strong="G3588" still defending|strong="G0626" himself|strong="G0846", Festus|strong="G5347" shouted, “Paul|strong="G3972", you|strong="G4771" are|strong="G3778" out of|strong="G5456" your|strong="G3588" mind|strong="G3105"! Too|strong="G3173" much|strong="G4183" study has|strong="G3778" made you|strong="G4771" crazy.”
25 Paul|strong="G3972" said|strong="G5346", “Most|strong="G2903" Honorable Festus|strong="G5347", I|strong="G2532" am|strong="G3105" not|strong="G3756" crazy. What|strong="G3588" I|strong="G2532" am|strong="G3105" saying|strong="G4487" is|strong="G3588" true|strong="G0225". It|strong="G1161" all|strong="G3588" makes perfect sense.
26 King|strong="G0935" Agrippa knows|strong="G1987" about|strong="G4012" all|strong="G3588" this|strong="G3778", and|strong="G2532" I|strong="G3739" can speak|strong="G2980" freely|strong="G3955" to|strong="G4314" him|strong="G0846". I|strong="G3739" know|strong="G1987" that|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" has|strong="G3739" heard about|strong="G4012" these|strong="G3778" things|strong="G3778", because|strong="G1063" they|strong="G0846" happened|strong="G3588" where|strong="G3739" everyone|strong="G3739" could|strong="G3982" see them|strong="G0846".
27 King|strong="G0935" Agrippa|strong="G0067", do|strong="G1492" you|strong="G3754" believe|strong="G4100" what|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" prophets|strong="G4396" wrote? I|strong="G3754" know|strong="G1492" you|strong="G3754" believe|strong="G4100"!”
28 King Agrippa|strong="G0067" said to|strong="G4314" Paul|strong="G3972", “Do|strong="G4160" you|strong="G1722" think you|strong="G1722" can|strong="G4160" persuade|strong="G3982" me|strong="G1473" to|strong="G4314" become|strong="G4160" a|strong="G4160" ‘Christ-follower’ so|strong="G1161" easily?”
29 Paul|strong="G3972" said|strong="G1096", “It|strong="G0191" is|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" important|strong="G3173" if|strong="G0302" it|strong="G0191" is|strong="G1510" easy or|strong="G2532" if|strong="G0302" it|strong="G0191" is|strong="G1510" hard. I|strong="G1473" pray|strong="G2172" to|strong="G2532" God|strong="G2316" that|strong="G0191" not|strong="G3756" only|strong="G3440" you|strong="G4771" but|strong="G1161" that|strong="G0191" everyone|strong="G3956" listening|strong="G0191" to|strong="G2532" me|strong="G1473" today|strong="G4594" could|strong="G1096" be|strong="G1510" saved and|strong="G2532" be|strong="G1510" just|strong="G3440" like|strong="G5108" me|strong="G1473"—except|strong="G3924" for|strong="G1722" these|strong="G3778" chains|strong="G1199" I|strong="G1473" have|strong="G1510"!”
30 King|strong="G0935" Agrippa, Governor|strong="G2232" Festus, Bernice|strong="G0959", and|strong="G2532" all|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" sitting|strong="G4775" with|strong="G2532" them|strong="G0846" stood|strong="G0450" up|strong="G0450"
31 and|strong="G2532" left|strong="G0402" the|strong="G3588" room. They|strong="G2532" were|strong="G3778" talking|strong="G2980" to|strong="G4314" each|strong="G0240" other|strong="G0240". They|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004", “This|strong="G3778" man|strong="G0444" has|strong="G0444" done|strong="G4238" nothing|strong="G3762" worthy|strong="G0514" of|strong="G5100" being|strong="G0444" put to|strong="G4314" death|strong="G2288" or|strong="G2228" even|strong="G2532" put in|strong="G2532" jail.”
32 And|strong="G1161" Agrippa|strong="G0067" said|strong="G5346" to|strong="G1410" Festus|strong="G5347", “We|strong="G3778" could|strong="G1410" let|strong="G0630" him|strong="G0444" go|strong="G0630" free|strong="G0630", but|strong="G1161" he|strong="G3778" has|strong="G0444" asked to|strong="G1410" see Caesar|strong="G2541".”