very well knowest.
[11] For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse
not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto
them. I appeal unto Caesar.
[12] Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast
thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
[13] And after certain days king Agrippa and
Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.
[14] And when they had been there many days, Festus
declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:
[15] About
whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring
to have judgment against him.
[16] To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver
any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to
answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.
[17] Therefore, when they were come hither,
without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought
forth.
[18] Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I
supposed:
[19] But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which
was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
[20] And because I doubted of such manner of questions,
I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.
[21] But when
Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might
send him to Caesar.
[22] Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow,
said he, thou shalt hear him.
[23] And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great
pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city,
at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.
[24] And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which
are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with
me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
[25] But when I found
that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have
determined to send him.
[26] Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have
brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I
might have somewhat to write.
[27] For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal
to signify the crimes laid against him.
Acts.26
[1] Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the
hand, and answered for himself:
[2] I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself
this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
[3] Especially because I
know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech
thee to hear me patiently.
[4] My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own
nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
[5] Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that
after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
[6] And now I stand and am judged for the
hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
[7] Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly
serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the
Jews.
[8] Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
[9] I verily
thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
[10] Which
thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority
from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
[11] And I punished
them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against
them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
[12] Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority
and commission from the chief priests,
[13] At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above
the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
[14] And when we
were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul,
Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
[15] And I said, Who art
thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
[16] But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for
I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things
which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
[17] Delivering thee from
the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
[18] To open their eyes, and to turn them
from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins,