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I will rescue you from the people of Israel and from the Gentiles to whom I will send you.
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You are to open their eyes and turn them from the darkness to the light and from the power of Satan to God, so that through their faith in me they will have their sins forgiven and receive their place among God's chosen people.'
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"And so, King Agrippa, I did not disobey the vision I had from heaven.
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First in Damascus and in Jerusalem and then in the whole country of Israel and among the Gentiles, I preached that they must repent of their sins and turn to God and do the things that would show they had repented.
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It was for this reason that these Jews seized me while I was in the Temple, and they tried to kill me.
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But to this very day I have been helped by God, and so I stand here giving my witness to all, to small and great alike. What I say is the very same thing which the prophets and Moses said was going to happen:
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that the Messiah must suffer and be the first one to rise from death, to announce the light of salvation to the Jews and to the Gentiles."
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As Paul defended himself in this way, Festus shouted at him, "You are mad, Paul! Your great learning is driving you mad!"
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Paul answered, "I am not mad, Your Excellency! I am speaking the sober truth.
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King Agrippa! I can speak to you with all boldness, because you know about these things. I am sure that you have taken notice of every one of them, for this thing has not happened hidden away in a corner.
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King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do!"