Acts 26 (CNT) — Codex Sacra

¹ And Agrippas said to Paul: "It is permitted for you to speak concerning yourself." Then Paul extending the hand spoke in reply: ² "Concerning all things of which I am charged by the Judaeans, King Agrippas, I regard myself blessed for being about to speak in defense before you today, ³ especially since you are one that knows of all of the customs and disputes among the Judaeans, on which account I beg to hear me patiently. ⁴ Now indeed my manner of living from youth which had from the first been among my nation and in Jerusalem all the Judaeans know, ⁵ knowing me from the beginning, if they would wish to testify, that according to the most precise sect of our worship I have lived a Pharisee. ⁶ And now for the hope of the promise having been made by Yahweh to our fathers I stand being judged, ⁷ for which our twelve tribes serving in earnest night and day hope to attain, concerning which hope I am charged by the Judaeans, King: ⁸ Why is it judged incredible by you, if Yahweh raises the dead? ⁹ Now then I myself supposed it necessary, regarding the Name of Yahshua the Nazoraian, to do many things against, ¹⁰ which even I had done in Jerusalem, and then many of the saints I had shut up in prison, receiving authority from the high priests, and upon their being slain I had cast a vote. ¹¹ And throughout all the assembly halls many times punishing them, I compelled them to blaspheme and being exceedingly mad at them pursued them even as far as the cities outside. ¹² Upon which things going into Damaskos with the authority and a commission of the high priests ¹³ I saw at midday during the journey, King, shining around me and those traveling with me a light from heaven beyond the brilliance of the sun. ¹⁴ And upon all of us falling down to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language: 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.' ¹⁵ And I said 'Who are you, master?' And the Prince said 'I am Yahshua, whom you persecute, ¹⁶ but you must rise and stand upon your feet. For this have I appeared to you, for you to be a chosen assistant and witness both of the things you have seen by Me and of the things I shall reveal to you, ¹⁷ taking you out from among the people and from the nations to whom I send you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes, for which to turn them from darkness to light and from the authority of the Adversary to Yahweh, for them to receive a remission of errors and a portion with those being sanctified by the faith which is in Me.' ¹⁹ Wherefore, King Agrippas, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but to both those in Damaskos first, then to those in Jerusalem, then all the region of Judaea and to the Nations I announced to repent and to turn to Yahweh doing deeds worthy of repentance. ²¹ Because of these things the Judaeans seizing me in the temple attempted to take me in hand. ²² However obtaining assistance from Yahweh, unto this day I have stood bearing testimony to both the small and the great, saying nothing outside of the things which both the prophets and Moses said are going to happen, ²³ whether the Christ was to suffer, whether first from a resurrection from the dead is a light going to be declared to both the people and to the Nations." ²⁴ And upon his speaking these things in reply, Phestos with a great voice said "Paul, you are mad! Your great learning has turned you to madness!" ²⁵ But Paul "I am not mad, as it is said, noble Phestos, but the words which I utter are of truth and discretion. ²⁶ For the king knows about these things, to whom also I speak being freespoken. For any of these things to escape his notice I am not persuaded at all, indeed it is not in a corner that this had been done! ²⁷ You do believe, King Agrippas, in the prophets? I know that you believe." ²⁸ Then Agrippas to Paul: "In brief do you persuade me to be made a Christian?" ²⁹ And Paul: "I would have prayed to Yahweh that in brief and at length not only you but also all those hearing me today are to be such as of this manner that also I am, except for these bonds." ³⁰ Then the king arose, and the governor and Bernika and those who gathered with them ³¹ and departing they spoke to each other saying that this man does nothing worthy of death or bonds. ³² And Agrippas said to Phestos: "This man was able to have been released, if he had not appealed to Caesar."