Paul’s Testimony to Agrippa
(Acts 9:1–19; Acts 22:1–21)
Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Act 9:15Act 26:2Jhn 7:51Pro 1:24Act 22:1Act 25:16Pro 18:13Pro 18:17
Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense: “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews, especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently. Act 6:14Act 26:261Co 13:2Act 21:21Act 24:10Act 24:4Act 25:19-20Act 25:26
Surely all the Jews know how I have lived from the earliest days of my youth, among my own people and in Jerusalem. Gal 1:132Ti 3:10Act 22:3Php 3:5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion. Act 23:6Act 22:3Act 22:5Act 24:5Act 24:14Php 3:5-6
And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers, Tit 2:13Act 24:15Act 28:20Dan 7:13-14Rom 15:8Act 13:32-33Act 23:6Deu 18:15 the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to realize as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews. Jas 1:11Ti 5:5Php 3:111Th 3:10Ezr 6:17Luk 22:30Mat 19:28Act 20:31 Why would any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? 1Co 15:12-20Act 17:31-32Act 4:2Act 10:40-42Luk 18:27Php 3:21Act 13:30-31Act 23:6
So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 1Ti 1:13Act 22:8Gal 1:13-14Php 3:6Act 21:13Act 24:5Act 3:6Act 9:16 And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them. Act 8:3Act 9:13-14Act 9:21Act 22:4-51Co 15:9Act 22:19-20Act 7:58Act 8:1 I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them. Act 13:45Act 22:19Mat 10:17Act 22:5Act 9:12Pe 2:16Act 18:6Act 26:24-25
In this pursuit I was on my way to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. Act 22:5-11Act 26:10Act 9:1-81Ki 21:8-10Isa 10:1Jer 26:8Jer 29:26-27Jhn 11:57 About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. Rev 1:16Rev 21:23Act 22:6Mat 17:2Act 9:3Isa 24:23Isa 30:26 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, 1 ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ Act 21:40Act 22:2Act 9:7Act 22:7-91Co 10:22Act 9:4-5Zec 12:2Zec 2:8
‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. Jhn 15:20-21Mat 25:45Exo 16:8Mat 25:40
‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you. Act 22:14-15Dan 10:11Ezk 2:11Ti 1:12Gal 1:12Rom 15:162Co 12:1-72Co 4:1 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them Act 9:151Ti 2:7Jer 1:19Rom 11:132Ti 1:112Ti 3:112Ti 4:16-17Act 28:28 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’ 1Pe 2:9Eph 1:18Act 20:32Eph 5:8Isa 42:72Co 4:6Col 1:12-14Jhn 8:12
So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Isa 50:5Ezk 2:7-8Gal 1:16Jer 20:9Act 26:2Exo 4:13-14Ezk 3:14Jon 1:3 First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance. Act 3:19Mat 3:82Ti 2:25-26Act 2:382Pe 1:5-8Luk 19:8-9Mat 9:13Rev 2:5 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts 2and tried to kill me. Act 21:30-31Act 21:27Act 22:22Act 23:12-15Act 25:3
But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen: Act 24:14Jhn 5:46Act 10:43Luk 24:27Luk 24:44Rom 3:211Sa 7:122Co 1:8-10 that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.” Isa 53:1-12Luk 24:26Col 1:18Rev 1:5Dan 9:24-26Heb 2:10Zec 12:101Co 15:20-23
Festus Interrupts Paul’s Defense
At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!” 1Co 2:13-141Co 1:231Co 4:102Co 5:13Mrk 3:212Ki 9:11Jer 29:26Act 17:32
But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety. Act 23:26Tit 1:9Tit 2:7-81Pe 2:21-231Pe 3:151Pe 3:9Act 24:3Jhn 8:49 For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him. I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. Act 26:2-3Act 2:1-12Act 25:22Act 4:16-21Act 5:18-42Isa 30:20Mat 27:29-54Mat 26:5 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” Act 26:22-23
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?” Act 11:26Mat 10:181Pe 4:162Co 4:2Act 24:25Act 26:29Ezk 33:31Jas 1:23-24
“Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.” Eph 6:20Act 21:33Col 1:28Rom 10:11Co 4:81Co 7:72Co 11:12Ki 5:3
Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them. Act 18:15Act 25:23Act 28:22 On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.” Act 23:29Act 23:9Act 28:181Pe 3:161Pe 4:14-162Sa 24:17Act 25:25Luk 23:14-15
And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.” Act 28:18Act 25:11-12Act 25:25