1. Agrippa said to Paul, “You may now speak to defend yourself.”Then Paul raised his hand and began to speak.
2. He said, “King Agrippa, I will answer all the charges that the Jews make against me. I think it is a blessing that I can stand here before you today.
3. I am very happy to talk to you, because you know so much about all the Jewish customs and the things that the Jews argue about. Please listen to me patiently.
4. “All the Jews know about my whole life. They know the way I lived from the beginning in my own country and later in Jerusalem.
5. They have known me for a long time. If they want to, they can tell you that I was a good Pharisee. And the Pharisees obey the laws of the Jewish religion more carefully than any other group of Jewish people.
6. Now I am on trial because I hope for the promise that God made to our ancestors.
7. This is the promise that the 12 tribes of our people hope to receive. For this hope the Jews serve God day and night. My king, the Jews have accused me because I hope for this same promise!
8. Why do any of you people think it is impossible for God to raise people from death?
9. “I too thought I ought to do many things against Jesus from Nazareth.
10. And in Jerusalem I did many things against God’s people. The leading priests gave me the power to put many of them in jail. When they were being killed, I agreed that it was a good thing.
11. In every synagogue, I often punished them. I tried to make them say evil things against Jesus. I was so angry against them that I even went to other cities to find them and punish them.
12. “One time the leading priests gave me permission and the power to go to Damascus.
13. On the way there, at noon, I saw a light from heaven. The light was brighter than the sun. It flashed all around me and the men who were traveling with me.
14. We all fell to the ground. Then I heard a voice speaking to me in the Jewish language. The voice said, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you doing things against me? You are only hurting yourself by fighting me.’
15. I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The Lord said, ‘I am Jesus. I am the One you are trying to hurt.