The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 Agrippa spoke directly to Paul: "Go ahead - tell us about yourself."
1
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2 "I can't think of anyone, King Agrippa, before whom I'd rather be answering all these Jewish accusations than you,
2
I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
3 knowing how well you are acquainted with Jewish ways and all our family quarrels.
3
Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 "From the time of my youth, my life has been lived among my own people in Jerusalem.
4
My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
5 Practically every Jew in town who watched me grow up - and if they were willing to stick their necks out they'd tell you in person - knows that I lived as a strict Pharisee, the most demanding branch of our religion.
5
Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 It's because I believed it and took it seriously,
6
And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
7 committed myself heart and soul to what God promised my ancestors - the identical hope, mind you, that the twelve tribes have lived for night and day all these centuries - it's because I have held on to this tested and tried hope that I'm being called on the carpet by the Jews. They should be the ones standing trial here, not me!
7
Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
8 For the life of me, I can't see why it's a criminal offense to believe that God raises the dead.
8
Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
9 "I admit that I didn't always hold to this position. For a time I thought it was my duty to oppose this Jesus of Nazareth with all my might.
9
I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 Backed with the full authority of the high priests, I threw these believers - I had no idea they were God's people! - into the Jerusalem jail right and left, and whenever it came to a vote, I voted for their execution.
10
Which thing 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 voice against them.
11 I stormed through their meeting places, bullying them into cursing Jesus, a one-man terror obsessed with obliterating these people. And then I started on the towns outside Jerusalem.
11
And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
12 "One day on my way to Damascus, armed as always with papers from the high priests authorizing my action,
12
Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 right in the middle of the day a blaze of light, light outshining the sun, poured out of the sky on me and my companions. Oh, King, it was so bright!
13
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 which journeyed with me.
14 We fell flat on our faces. Then I heard a voice in Hebrew: 'Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me? Why do you insist on going against the grain?'
14
And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue,Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15 "I said, 'Who are you, Master?'
15
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said,I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But now, up on your feet - I have a job for you. I've handpicked you to be a servant and witness to what's happened today, and to what I am going to show you.
16
But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 "'I'm sending you off
17
Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I'm sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.'
18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
19 "What could I do, King Agrippa? I couldn't just walk away from a vision like that! I became an obedient believer on the spot.
19
Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20 I started preaching this life-change - this radical turn to God and everything it meant in everyday life - right there in Damascus, went on to Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside, and from there to the whole world.
20
But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
21 "It's because of this 'whole world' dimension that the Jews grabbed me in the Temple that day and tried to kill me. They want to keep God for themselves.
21
For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
22 But God has stood by me, just as he promised, and I'm standing here saying what I've been saying to anyone, whether king or child, who will listen. And everything I'm saying is completely in line with what the prophets and Moses said would happen:
22
Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23 One, the Messiah must die; two, raised from the dead, he would be the first rays of God's daylight shining on people far and near, people both godless and God-fearing."
23
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
24 That was too much for Festus. He interrupted with a shout: "Paul, you're crazy! You've read too many books, spent too much time staring off into space! Get a grip on yourself, get back in the real world!"
24
And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But Paul stood his ground. "With all respect, Festus, Your Honor, I'm not crazy. I'm both accurate and sane in what I'm saying.
25
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 The King knows what I'm talking about. I'm sure that nothing of what I've said sounds crazy to him. He's known all about it for a long time. You must realize that this wasn't done behind the scenes.
26
For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
27 You believe the prophets, don't you, King Agrippa? Don't answer that - I know you believe."
27
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
28 But Agrippa did answer: "Keep this up much longer and you'll make a Christian out of me!"
28
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
29 Paul, still in chains, said, "That's what I'm praying for, whether now or later, and not only you but everyone listening today, to become like me - except, of course, for this prison jewelry!"
29
And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
30 The king and the governor, along with Bernice and their advisors, got up
30
And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
31 and went into the next room to talk over what they had heard. They quickly agreed on Paul's innocence, saying, "There's nothing in this man deserving prison, let alone death."
31
And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
32 Agrippa told Festus, "He could be set free right now if he hadn't requested the hearing before Caesar."
32
Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.