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I think myself happy, O king Agrippa, that I am to answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews.
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Especially as thou knowest all, both customs and questions, that are among the Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
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And my life indeed from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation in Jerusalem, all the Jews do know:
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Having known me from the beginning (if they will give testimony) that according to the most sure sect of our religion I lived, a Pharisee.
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And now for the hope of the promise that was made by God to the fathers, do I stand subject to judgment:
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Unto which, our twelve tribes, serving night and day, hope to come. For which hope, O king, I am accused by the Jews.
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Why should it be thought a thing incredible that God should raise the dead?
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And I indeed did formerly think that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
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Which also I did at Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority of the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I brought the sentence.
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And oftentimes punishing them, in every synagogue, I compelled them to blaspheme: and being yet more mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.
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Whereupon, when I was going to Damascus with authority and permission of the chief priest,
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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 that were in company with me.
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And when we were all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the good.
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And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord answered: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
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But rise up and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared to thee, that I may make thee a minister and a witness of those things which thou hast seen and of those things wherein I will appear to thee,
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Delivering thee from the people and from the nations unto which now I send thee:
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To open their eyes, that they may be converted from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a lot among the saints, by the faith that is in me.
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Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not incredulous to the heavenly vision.
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But to them first that are at Damascus and at Jerusalem, and unto all the country of Judea, and to the Gentiles did I preach, that they should do penance and turn to God, doing works worthy of penance.
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For this cause, the Jews, when I was in the temple, having apprehended me, went about to kill me.
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But being aided by the help of God, I stand unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other thing than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come to pass:
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That Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should shew light to the people and to the Gentiles.