he Jews interceded with me, both at Jerusalem and here, Crying out
that he ought not to live any longer. (25)But having found that he had
committed nothing worthy of death, and he himself having appealed to
Augustus, I determined to send him. (26)Of whom I have nothing certain
to write to my lord. Wherefore I brought him forth before you, and
specially before thee, king Agrippa, in order that, the examination
having been made, I may have something to write. (27)For it seems to
me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not also signify the charges
against him.

XXVI.

AND Agrippa said to Paul: Thou art permitted to speak for thyself.
Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

(2)I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for
myself before thee this day, concerning all things whereof I am
accused by Jews; (3)especially since thou art expert in all the
customs and questions among Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me
patiently.

(4)My manner of life, therefore, from my youth, which was from the
beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all Jews know; (5)having
known me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that
according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.
(6)And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by
God to the fathers; (7)unto which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving
day and night, hope to attain; concerning which hope, O king, I am
accused by Jews.

(8)Why is it judged incredible with you, if God, raises the dead?

(9)I therefore thought to myself, that I ought to do many hostile
things against the name of Jesus the Nazarene. (10)Which I also did in
Jerusalem; and many of the saints did I myself shut up in prisons,
having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were
put to death, I gave my voice against them. (11)And punishing them
often, throughout all the synagogues, I constrained them to blaspheme;
and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them also unto
foreign cities.

(12)Whereupon, as I went to Damascus with authority and a commission
from the chief priests, (13)at midday, O king, I saw in the way a
light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining around me
and those who journeyed with me. (14)And we all having fallen to the
earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew
tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to
kick agai