GC
Acts · read by Greg Cliff
32 verses, in order. Only the verses Greg read aloud are shown.
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Acts 26
1
Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
2
"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews,Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
3
especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
4
Surely all the Jews know how I have lived from the earliest days of my youth, among my own people and in Jerusalem.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
5
They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
6
And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers,Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
7
the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to realize as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
8
Why would any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
9
So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
10
And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
11
I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
12
In this pursuit I was on my way to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
13
About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
14
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
15
'Who are You, Lord?' I asked. 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
16
'But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
17
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to themRead from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.'Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
19
So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
20
First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
21
For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
22
But I have had God's help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
23
that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles."Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
24
At this stage of Paul's defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, "You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!"Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
25
But Paul answered, "I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
26
For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him. I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
28
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?"Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
29
"Short time or long," Paul replied, "I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains."Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
30
Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them.Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
31
On their way out, they said to one another, "This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment."Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing
32
And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar."Read from KJV · Paul & Witnessing