Acts Chapter 26
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
and having found a ship crossing over unto Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail.
2
And when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
3
And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days: and these said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem.
4
And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed, and bade each other farewell;
5
and we went on board the ship, but they returned home again.
6
And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
7
And on the morrow we departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him.
8
Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied.
9
And as we tarried there some days, there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus.
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And coming to us, and taking Paul’s girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
11
And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
12
Then Paul answered, What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
13
And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
14
And after these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.
15
And there went with us also
16
certain of the disciples from Cæsarea, bringing
17
with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.
18
And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
19
And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
20
And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry.
21
And they, when they heard it, glorified God; and they said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of them that have believed; and they are all zealous for the law:
22
and they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
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What is it therefore? they will certainly hear that thou art come.
24
Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men that have a vow on them;
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these take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges for them, that they may shave their heads: and all shall know that there is no truth in the things whereof they have been informed concerning thee; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, keeping the law.
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But as touching the Gentiles that have believed, we wrote, giving judgment that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication.
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Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.
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And when the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him,
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crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place.
30
For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.
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And all the city was moved, and the people ran together; and they laid hold on Paul, and dragged him out of the temple: and straightway the doors were shut.
32
And as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came up to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And Agrippa said to Paul, It is permitted thee to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretching out his hand answered in his defence:
2
I count myself happy, king Agrippa, in having to answer to-day before thee concerning all of which I am accused by the Jews,
3
especially because thou art acquainted with all the customs and questions which are among the Jews; wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4
My manner of life then from my youth, which from its commencement was passed among my nation in Jerusalem, know all the Jews,
5
who knew me before from the outset [of my life], if they would bear witness, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
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And now I stand to be judged because of the hope of the promise made byGod to our fathers,
7
to which our whole twelve tribes serving incessantly day and night hope to arrive; about which hope, O king, I am accused of [the] Jews.
8
Why should it be judged a thing incredible in your sight ifGod raises the dead?
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I indeed myself thought that I ought to do much against the name of Jesus the Nazaraean.
10
Which also I did in Jerusalem, and myself shut up in prisons many of the saints, having received the authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death I gave my vote.
11
And often punishing them in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme. And, being exceedingly furious against them, I persecuted them even to cities out [of our own land].
12
And when, [engaged] in this, I was journeying to Damascus, with authority and power from the chief priests,
13
at mid-day, on the way, I saw, O king, a light above the brightness of the sun, shining from heaven round about me and those who were journeying with me.
14
And, when we were all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [it is] hard for thee to kick against goads.
15
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:
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but rise up and stand on thy feet; for, for this purpose have I appeared to thee, to appoint thee to be a servant and a witness both of what thou hast seen, and of what I shall appear to thee in,
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taking thee out from among the people, and the nations, to whom I send thee,
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to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan toGod, that they may receive remission of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.
19
Whereupon, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision;
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but have, first to those both in Damascus and Jerusalem, and to all the region of Judaea, and to the nations, announced that they should repent and turn toGod, doing works worthy of repentance.
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On account of these things the Jews, having seized me in the temple, attempted to lay hands on and destroy me.
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Having therefore met with [the] help which is fromGod, I have stood firm unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing else than those things which both the prophets and Moses have said should happen,
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[namely,] whether Christ should suffer; whether he first, through resurrection of [the] dead, should announce light both to the people and to the nations.
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And as he answered for his defence with these things, Festus says with a loud voice, Thou art mad, Paul; much learning turns thee to madness.
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But Paul said, I am not mad, most excellent Festus, but utter words of truth and soberness;
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for the king is informed about these things, to whom also I speak with all freedom. For I am persuaded that of these things nothing is hidden from him; for this was not done in a corner.
27
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28
And Agrippa [said] to Paul, In a little thou persuadest me to become a Christian.
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And Paul [said], I would toGod, both in little and in much, that not only thou, but all who have heard me this day, should become such as I also am, except these bonds.
30
And the king stood up, and the governor and Bernice, and those who sat with them,
31
and having gone apart, they spoke to one another saying, This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32
And Agrippa said to Festus, This man might have been let go if he had not appealed to Caesar.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Agrippa vero ad Paulum ait: Permittitur tibi loqui pro temetipso. Tunc Paulus extenta manu cœpit rationem reddere.
2
De omnibus, quibus accusor a Iudæis, rex Agrippa, æstimo me beatum, apud te cum sim defensurus me hodie,
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maxime te sciente omnia, et quæ apud Iudæos sunt consuetudines, et quæstiones: propter quod obsecro patienter me audias.
4
Et quidem vitam meam a iuventute, quæ ab initio fuit in gente mea in Ierosolymis, noverunt omnes Iudæi:
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præscientes me ab initio (si velint testimonium perhibere) quoniam secundum certissimam sectam nostræ religionis vixi Pharisæus.
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Et nunc in spe, quæ ad patres nostros repromissionis facta est a Deo, sto iudicio subiectus:
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in quam duodecim tribus nostræ nocte ac die deservientes, sperant devenire. De qua spe accusor a Iudæis, rex.
8
Quid incredibile iudicatur apud vos, si Deus mortuos suscitat?
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Et ego quidem existimaveram, me adversus nomen Iesu Nazareni debere multa contraria agere.
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quod et feci Ierosolymis, et multos sanctorum ego in carceribus inclusi, a principibus sacerdotum potestate accepta: et cum occiderentur, detuli sententiam.
11
Et per omnes synagogas frequenter puniens eos, compellebam blasphemare: et amplius insaniens in eos, persequebar usque in exteras civitates.
12
In quibus dum irem Damascum cum potestate, et permissu principum sacerdotum,
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die media in via, vidi, rex, de cælo supra splendorem solis circumfulsisse me lumen, et eos, qui mecum simul erant.
14
Omnesque nos cum decidissemus in terram, audivi vocem loquentem mihi Hebraica lingua: Saule, Saule, quid me persequeris? durum est tibi contra stimulum calcitrare.
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Ego autem dixi: Quis es Domine? Dominus autem dixit: Ego sum Iesus, quem tu persequeris.
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Sed exurge, et sta super pedes tuos: ad hoc enim apparui tibi, ut constituam te ministrum, et testem eorum, quæ vidisti, et eorum, quibus apparebo tibi,
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eripiens te de populo, et gentibus, in quas nunc ego mitto te,
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aperire oculos eorum, ut convertantur a tenebris ad lucem, et de potestate satanæ ad Deum, ut accipiant remissionem peccatorum, et sortem inter sanctos per fidem, quæ est in me.
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Unde rex Agrippa, non fui incredulus cælesti visioni:
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sed his, qui sunt Damasci primum, et Ierosolymis, et in omnem regionem Iudææ, et Gentibus annunciabam, ut pœnitentiam agerent, et converterentur ad Deum, digna pœnitentiæ opera facientes.
21
Hac ex causa me Iudæi, cum essem in templo, comprehensum tentabant interficere.
22
Auxilio autem adiutus Dei usque in hodiernum diem sto, testificans minori, atque maiori, nihil extra dicens quam ea, quæ Prophetæ locuti sunt futura esse, et Moyses,
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si passibilis Christus, si primus ex resurrectione mortuorum, lumen annunciaturus est populo, et Gentibus.
24
Hæc loquente eo, et rationem reddente, Festus magna voce dixit: Insanis Paule: multæ te litteræ ad insaniam convertunt.
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Et Paulus: Non insanio (inquit) optime Feste, sed veritatis, et sobrietatis verba loquor.
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Scit enim de his rex, ad quem et constanter loquor: latere enim eum nihil horum arbitror. Neque enim in angulo quidquam horum gestum est.
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Credis rex Agrippa prophetis? Scio quia credis.
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Agrippa autem ad Paulum: In modico suades me Christianum fieri.
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Et Paulus: Opto apud Deum, et in modico, et in magno, non tantum te, sed etiam omnes, qui audiunt, hodie fieri tales, qualis et ego sum, exceptis vinculis his.
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Et exurrexit rex, et præses, et Bernice, et qui assidebant eis.
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Et cum secessissent, loquebantur ad invicem, dicentes: Quia nihil morte, aut vinculis dignum quid fecit homo iste.
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Agrippa autem Festo dixit: Dimitti poterat homo hic, si non appellasset Cæsarem.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defense.
2
“I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you today concerning all the things that I am accused by the Jews,
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especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
4
“Indeed, all the Jews know my way of life from my youth up, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem;
5
having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6
Now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,
7
which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa!
8
Why is it judged incredible with you if God does raise the dead?
9
“I myself most certainly thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10
I also did this in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.
11
Punishing them often in all the synagogues, I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
12
“Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests,
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at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me.
14
When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15
“I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
16
But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will reveal to you;
17
delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you,
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to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20
but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
21
For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
22
Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen,
23
how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.”
24
As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!”
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But he said, “I am not crazy, most excellent Festus, but boldly declare words of truth and reasonableness.
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For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner.
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King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.”
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Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?”
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Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me today, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.”
30
The king rose up with the governor and Bernice, and those who sat with them.
31
When they had withdrawn, they spoke to one another, saying, “This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds.”
32
Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM
1
αγριππας δε προς τον παυλον εφη επιτρεπεται σοι υπερ σεαυτου λεγειν τοτε ο παυλος εκτεινας την χειρα απελογειτο
2
περι παντων ων εγκαλουμαι υπο ιουδαιων βασιλευ αγριππα ηγημαι εμαυτον μακαριον επι σου μελλων σημερον απολογεισθαι
3
μαλιστα γνωστην οντα σε παντων των κατα ιουδαιους εθων τε και ζητηματων διο δεομαι μακροθυμως ακουσαι μου
4
την μεν ουν βιωσιν μου εκ νεοτητος την απ αρχης γενομενην εν τω εθνει μου εν τε ιεροσολυμοις ισασιν παντες ιουδαιοι
5
προγινωσκοντες με ανωθεν εαν θελωσιν μαρτυρειν οτι κατα την ακριβεστατην αιρεσιν της ημετερας θρησκειας εζησα φαρισαιος
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και νυν επ ελπιδι της εις τους πατερας ημων επαγγελιας γενομενης υπο του θεου εστηκα κρινομενος
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εις ην το δωδεκαφυλον ημων εν εκτενεια νυκτα και ημεραν λατρευον ελπιζει καταντησαι περι ης ελπιδος εγκαλουμαι υπο ιουδαιων βασιλευ
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τι απιστον κρινεται παρ υμιν ει ο θεος νεκρους εγειρει
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εγω μεν ουν εδοξα εμαυτω προς το ονομα ιησου του ναζωραιου δειν πολλα εναντια πραξαι
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ο και εποιησα εν ιεροσολυμοις και πολλους τε των αγιων εγω εν φυλακαις κατεκλεισα την παρα των αρχιερεων εξουσιαν λαβων αναιρουμενων τε αυτων κατηνεγκα ψηφον
11
και κατα πασας τας συναγωγας πολλακις τιμωρων αυτους ηναγκαζον βλασφημειν περισσως τε εμμαινομενος αυτοις εδιωκον εως και εις τας εξω πολεις
12
εν οις πορευομενος εις την δαμασκον μετ εξουσιας και επιτροπης της των αρχιερεων
13
ημερας μεσης κατα την οδον ειδον βασιλευ ουρανοθεν υπερ την λαμπροτητα του ηλιου περιλαμψαν με φως και τους συν εμοι πορευομενους
14
παντων τε καταπεσοντων ημων εις την γην ηκουσα φωνην λεγουσαν προς με τη εβραιδι διαλεκτω σαουλ σαουλ τι με διωκεις σκληρον σοι προς κεντρα λακτιζειν
15
εγω δε ειπα τις ει κυριε ο δε κυριος ειπεν εγω ειμι ιησους ον συ διωκεις
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αλλα αναστηθι και στηθι επι τους ποδας σου εις τουτο γαρ ωφθην σοι προχειρισασθαι σε υπηρετην και μαρτυρα ων τε ειδες με ων τε οφθησομαι σοι
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εξαιρουμενος σε εκ του λαου και εκ των εθνων εις ους εγω αποστελλω σε
18
ανοιξαι οφθαλμους αυτων του επιστρεψαι απο σκοτους εις φως και της εξουσιας του σατανα επι τον θεον του λαβειν αυτους αφεσιν αμαρτιων και κληρον εν τοις ηγιασμενοις πιστει τη εις εμε
19
οθεν βασιλευ αγριππα ουκ εγενομην απειθης τη ουρανιω οπτασια
20
αλλα τοις εν δαμασκω πρωτον τε και ιεροσολυμοις πασαν τε την χωραν της ιουδαιας και τοις εθνεσιν απηγγελλον μετανοειν και επιστρεφειν επι τον θεον αξια της μετανοιας εργα πρασσοντας
21
ενεκα τουτων με ιουδαιοι συλλαβομενοι εν τω ιερω επειρωντο διαχειρισασθαι
22
επικουριας ουν τυχων της απο του θεου αχρι της ημερας ταυτης εστηκα μαρτυρομενος μικρω τε και μεγαλω ουδεν εκτος λεγων ων τε οι προφηται ελαλησαν μελλοντων γινεσθαι και μωυσης
23
ει παθητος ο χριστος ει πρωτος εξ αναστασεως νεκρων φως μελλει καταγγελλειν τω τε λαω και τοις εθνεσιν
24
ταυτα δε αυτου απολογουμενου ο φηστος μεγαλη τη φωνη φησιν μαινη παυλε τα πολλα σε γραμματα εις μανιαν περιτρεπει
25
ο δε παυλος ου μαινομαι φησιν κρατιστε φηστε αλλα αληθειας και σωφροσυνης ρηματα αποφθεγγομαι
26
επισταται γαρ περι τουτων ο βασιλευς προς ον παρρησιαζομενος λαλω λανθανειν γαρ αυτον τουτων ου πειθομαι ουθεν ου γαρ εστιν εν γωνια πεπραγμενον τουτο
27
πιστευεις βασιλευ αγριππα τοις προφηταις οιδα οτι πιστευεις
28
ο δε αγριππας προς τον παυλον εν ολιγω με πειθεις χριστιανον ποιησαι
29
ο δε παυλος ευξαιμην αν τω θεω και εν ολιγω και εν μεγαλω ου μονον σε αλλα και παντας τους ακουοντας μου σημερον γενεσθαι τοιουτους οποιος και εγω ειμι παρεκτος των δεσμων τουτων
30
ανεστη τε ο βασιλευς και ο ηγεμων η τε βερνικη και οι συγκαθημενοι αυτοις
31
και αναχωρησαντες ελαλουν προς αλληλους λεγοντες οτι ουδεν θανατου η δεσμων αξιον πρασσει ο ανθρωπος ουτος
32
αγριππας δε τω φηστω εφη απολελυσθαι εδυνατο ο ανθρωπος ουτος ει μη επεκεκλητο καισαρα
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And Agrippa said unto Paul, `It is permitted to thee to speak for thyself;' then Paul having stretched forth the hand, was making a defence:
2
`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,
3
especially knowing thee to be acquainted with all things--both customs and questions--among Jews; wherefore, I beseech thee, patiently to hear me.
4
`The manner of my life then, indeed, from youth--which from the beginning was among my nation, in Jerusalem--know do all the Jews,
5
knowing 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;
6
and now for the hope of the promise made to the fathers by God, I have stood judged,
7
to which our twelve tribes, intently night and day serving, do hope to come, concerning which hope I am accused, king Agrippa, by the Jews;
8
why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?
9
`I, indeed, therefore, thought with myself, that against the name of Jesus of Nazareth it behoved <FI>me<Fi> many things to do,
10
which 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,
11
and in every synagogue, often punishing them, I was constraining <FI>them<Fi> to speak evil, being also exceedingly mad against them, I was also persecuting <FI>them<Fi> even unto strange cities.
12
`In which things, also, going on to Damascus--with authority and commission from the chief priests--
13
at 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;
14
and 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!
15
`And I said, Who art thou, Lord? and he said, I am Jesus whom thou dost persecute;
16
but 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 <FI>in which<Fi> I will appear to thee,
17
delivering thee from the people, and the nations, to whom now I send thee,
18
to open their eyes, to turn <FI>them<Fi> from darkness to light, and <FI>from<Fi> the authority of the Adversary unto God, for their receiving forgiveness of sins, and a lot among those having been sanctified, by faith that <FI>is<Fi> toward me.
19
`Whereupon, king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20
but 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;
21
because of these things the Jews--having caught me in the temple--were endeavouring to kill <FI>me<Fi> .
22
`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,
23
that 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.'
24
And, he thus making a defence, Festus with a loud voice said, `Thou art mad, Paul; much learning doth turn thee mad;'
25
and he saith, `I am not mad, most noble Festus, but of truth and soberness the sayings I speak forth;
26
for 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;
27
thou dost believe, king Agrippa, the prophets? I have known that thou dost believe!'
28
And Agrippa said unto Paul, `In a little thou dost persuade me to become a Christian!'
29
and 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.'
30
And, he having spoken these things, the king rose up, and the governor, Bernice also, and those sitting with them,
31
and having withdrawn, they were speaking unto one another, saying--`This man doth nothing worthy of death or of bonds;'
32
and Agrippa said to Festus, `This man might have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.'
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).