Acts 26:1-9

Paul's Defense before Agrippa

1 ¹Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense:

2 "In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today;

3 especially because you are an expert in all ²customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 "So then, all Jews know ³my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem;

5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a ⁴Pharisee ⁵according to the strictest ⁶sect of our religion.

6 "And now I am standing trial ⁷for the hope of ⁸the promise made by God to our fathers;

7 the promise ⁹to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly * serve God night and day. And for this ¹⁰hope, O King, I am being ¹¹accused by Jews.

8 "Why is it considered incredible among you people ¹²if God does raise the dead?

9 "So then, ¹³I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to ¹⁴the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Cross References

• 1. Acts 9:15
• 2. Acts 6:14; Acts 25:19; Acts 26:7
• 3. Galatians 1:13; Philippians 3:5
• 4. Acts 23:6; Philippians 3:5
• 5. Acts 22:3
• 6. Acts 15:5
• 7. Acts 24:15; Acts 28:20
• 8. Acts 13:32
• 9. James 1:1
• 10. Acts 24:15; Acts 28:20
• 11. Acts 26:2
• 12. Acts 23:6
• 13. John 16:2; 1 Timothy 1:13
• 14. John 15:21

Footnotes

• [a] Or "because you are especially expert"
• [b] Or "controversial issues"
• [c] Lit "being tried"