18. I send you to open their eyes that they may turn away from darkness to the light. I send you that they may turn away from the power of Satan and turn to God. Then their sins can be forgiven and they can have a place with those people who have been made holy by believing in me.’
19. “King Agrippa, after I had this vision from heaven, I obeyed it.
20. I began telling people that they should change their hearts and lives and turn to God. I told them to do things to show that they really had changed. I told this first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and in every part of Judea, and also to the non-Jewish people.
21. This is why the Jews took me and were trying to kill me in the Temple.
22. But God helped me and is still helping me today. With God’s help I am standing here today and telling all people what I have seen. But I am saying nothing new. I am saying what Moses and the prophets said would happen.
23. They said that the Christ would die and be the first to rise from death. They said that the Christ would bring light to the Jewish and non-Jewish people.”
24. While Paul was saying these things to defend himself, Festus said loudly, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Too much study has driven you crazy!”
25. Paul said, “Most Excellent Festus, I am not crazy. My words are true. They are not the words of a foolish man.
26. King Agrippa knows about these things. I can speak freely to him. I know that he has heard about all of these things. They did not happen off in a corner.
27. King Agrippa, do you believe what the prophets wrote? I know you believe!”
28. King Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian in such a short time?”
29. Paul said, “Whether it is a short or a long time, I pray to God that not only you but every person listening to me today would be saved and be like me—except for these chains I have!”
30. Then King Agrippa, Governor Festus, Bernice, and all the people sitting with them stood up
31. and left the room. They were talking to each other. They said, “There is no reason why this man should die or be put in jail.”
32. And Agrippa said to Festus, “We could let this man go free, but he has asked Caesar to hear his case.”