PAUL AND KING AGRIPPA

I'm happy, king Agrippa, to defend myself today concerning all the things that the Jewish people accuse me of. Especially because I know you are an expert in all customs and questions that the Jewish people have, so I ask you to hear me patiently. All the Jewish people who knew me from the beginning would tell you that since my youth, when I lived in my own nation of Jerusalem, I lived according to the most strict sect of our religion, as a Pharisee. And now, I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, to our fathers. And to that promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God day and night, hope to come. For that hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jewish people. Why do you think it's an incredible thing, that God should raise the dead? I honestly thought myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And many things 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 opinion against them. I punished them often, in every synagogue, and strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. Then, as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, I saw on my way, a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me. When we were all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in Hebrew, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It's hard for you to fight against what you're to be. And I said, Who are you, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. But rise, and stand on your feet: because I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things which you have seen, and of other things which I will show you; delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among those who are sanctified by Faith that is in me. Hearing that, O king Agrippa, I wasn't disobedient to the Heavenly vision, but showed, first to those in Damascus, and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works suitable for repentance. These are the reasons the Jewish people caught me in the Temple, and tried to kill me. But having obtained the help of God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would happen: That Christ would suffer, and that He would be the first that would rise from the dead, and would show light to the people, and to the Gentiles.