Paul’s Early Life
1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:
2 “I think myself ahappy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer bfor myself before you concerning all the things of which I am caccused by the Jews,
3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
4 “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.
5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to athe strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 aAnd now I stand and am judged for the hope of bthe promise made by God to our fathers.
7 To this promise aour twelve tribes, earnestly serving God bnight and day, chope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.
8 Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?
9 a“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things1 contrary to the name of bJesus of Nazareth.
10 aThis I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority bfrom the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
11 aAnd I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Paul Recounts His Conversion
12 a“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.
14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, ato make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, ato whom I now send you,
18 ato open their eyes, in order bto turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, cthat they may receive forgiveness of sins and dan inheritance among those who are esanctified by faith in Me.’
Paul’s Post-Conversion Life
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20 but adeclared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do bworks befitting repentance.
21 For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those awhich the prophets and bMoses said would come—
23 athat the Christ would suffer, bthat He would be the first to rise from the dead, and cwould proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
Agrippa Parries Paul’s Challenge
24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, ayou are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”
25 But he said, “I am not1 mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.
26 For the king, before whom I also speak freely, aknows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Commentaries:
No entry exists in Barnes' Notes for Acts 26:2.
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