Who, what, why, when, where, and how — read the book introduction
Acts 1–28 available · Reviewed and cleared by the author.
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Learn about the sources and coverage →Agrippa told Paul, “You may speak in your own defense.” Paul extended his hand and began:
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
Ἀγρίππας δὲ πρὸς τὸν Παῦλον ἔφη, Ἐπιτρέπεταί σοι ὑπὲρ σεαυτοῦ λέγειν. Τότε ὁ Παῦλος ἀπελογεῖτο, ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα,
Agrippas de pros ton Paulon ephē, Epitrepetai soi hyper seautou legein. Tote ho Paulos apelogeito, ekteinas tēn cheira,
“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today and answer all the accusations brought against me by the Jewish people,
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:
Περὶ πάντων ὧν ἐγκαλοῦμαι ὑπὸ Ἰουδαίων, βασιλεῦ Ἀγρίππα, ἥγημαι ἐμαυτὸν μακάριον ἐπὶ σοῦ μέλλων ἀπολογεῖσθαι σήμερον∙
Peri pantōn hōn enkaloumai hypo Ioudaiōn, basileu Agrippa, hēgēmai emauton makarion epi sou mellōn apologeisthai sēmeron;
especially because you know their customs and disputed questions so well. I ask you, then, to hear me patiently.
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.
μάλιστα γνώστην ὄντα σὲ πάντων τῶν κατὰ Ἰουδαίους ἠθῶν τε καὶ ζητημάτων∙ διὸ δέομαί σου, μακροθύμως ἀκοῦσαί μου.
malista gnōstēn onta se pantōn tōn kata Ioudaious ēthōn te kai zētēmatōn; dio deomai sou, makrothymōs akousai mou.
The Jewish people know how I lived from my youth, from the beginning of my life among my own people in Jerusalem.
My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
Τὴν μὲν οὖν βίωσίν μου τὴν ἐκ νεότητος, τὴν ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς γενομένην ἐν τῷ ἔθνει μου ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις, ἴσασιν πάντες οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι,
Tēn men oun biōsin mou tēn ek neotētos, tēn ap’ archēs genomenēn en tō ethnei mou en Hierosolymois, isasin pantes hoi Ioudaioi,
They have known me for years. If they are willing to testify, they can tell you that I lived as a Pharisee, following the strictest group within our religion.
Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
προγινώσκοντές με ἄνωθεν, ἐὰν θέλωσιν μαρτυρεῖν, ὅτι κατὰ τὴν ἀκριβεστάτην αἵρεσιν τῆς ἡμετέρας θρησκείας ἔζησα Φαρισαῖος.
proginōskontes me anōthen, ean thelōsin martyrein, hoti kata tēn akribestatēn hairesin tēs hēmeteras thrēskeias ezēsa Pharisaios.
And now I am on trial because I hope in the promise God made to our ancestors.
And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
Καὶ νῦν ἐπ’ ἐλπίδι τῆς πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας ἐπαγγελίας γενομένης ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ἕστηκα κρινόμενος,
Kai nyn ep’ elpidi tēs pros tous pateras epangelias genomenēs hypo tou theou hestēka krinomenos,
Our twelve tribes hope to see that promise fulfilled as they earnestly worship God night and day. Yet it is because of this very hope, King Agrippa, that Jewish accusers have brought their case against me!
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.
εἰς ἣν τὸ δωδεκάφυλον ἡμῶν ἐν ἐκτενείᾳ νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν λατρεῦον ἐλπίζει καταντῆσαι∙ περὶ ἧς ἐλπίδος ἐγκαλοῦμαι, βασιλεῦ Ἀγρίππα, ὑπὸ Ἰουδαίων.
eis hēn to dōdekaphylon hēmōn en ekteneia nykta kai hēmeran latreuon elpizei katantēsai; peri hēs elpidos enkaloumai, basileu Agrippa, hypo Ioudaiōn.
Why should any of you consider it impossible for God to raise the dead?
Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
Τί ἄπιστον κρίνεται παρ’ ὑμῖν, εἰ ὁ θεὸς νεκροὺς ἐγείρει;
Ti apiston krinetai par’ hymin, ei ho theos nekrous egeirei?
I too once believed I ought to do everything I could against the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ἔδοξα ἐμαυτῷ πρὸς τὸ ὄνομα Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Ναζωραίου δεῖν πολλὰ ἐναντία πρᾶξαι∙
Egō men oun edoxa emautō pros to onoma Iēsou tou Nazōraiou dein polla enantia praxai;
And that is what I did in Jerusalem. Having received authority from the chief priests, I imprisoned many believers in Jesus. When they were being put to death, I cast my vote against them.
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.
ὃ καὶ ἐποίησα ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις, καὶ πολλοὺς τῶν ἁγίων ἐγὼ φυλακαῖς κατέκλεισα, τὴν παρὰ τῶν ἀρχιερέων ἐξουσίαν λαβών, ἀναιρουμένων τε αὐτῶν κατήνεγκα ψῆφον.
ho kai epoiēsa en Hierosolymois, kai pollous tōn hagiōn egō phylakais katekleisa, tēn para tōn archiereōn exousian labōn, anairoumenōn te autōn katēnenka psēphon.
I repeatedly punished them in synagogue after synagogue and tried to force them to blaspheme. My fury against them was so great that I pursued them even to cities outside our country.
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.
Καὶ κατὰ πάσας τὰς συναγωγὰς πολλάκις τιμωρῶν αὐτούς, ἠνάγκαζον βλασφημεῖν∙ περισσῶς τε ἐμμαινόμενος αὐτοῖς, ἐδίωκον ἕως καὶ εἰς τὰς ἔξω πόλεις.
Kai kata pasas tas synagōgas pollakis timōrōn autous, ēnankazon blasphēmein; perissōs te emmainomenos autois, ediōkon heōs kai eis tas exō poleis.
“That was what I was doing when I traveled to Damascus with authority and a commission from the chief priests.
Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
Ἐν οἷς καὶ πορευόμενος εἰς τὴν Δαμασκὸν μετ’ ἐξουσίας καὶ ἐπιτροπῆς τῆς παρὰ τῶν ἀρχιερέων,
En hois kai poreuomenos eis tēn Damaskon met’ exousias kai epitropēs tēs para tōn archiereōn,
At midday, O king, I saw a light from heaven on the road. Brighter than the sun, it shone all around me and those traveling with me.
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.
ἡμέρας μέσης, κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν εἶδον, βασιλεῦ, οὐρανόθεν ὑπὲρ τὴν λαμπρότητα τοῦ ἡλίου, περιλάμψαν με φῶς καὶ τοὺς σὺν ἐμοὶ πορευομένους.
hēmeras mesēs, kata tēn hodon eidon, basileu, ouranothen hyper tēn lamprotēta tou hēliou, perilampsan me phōs kai tous syn emoi poreuomenous.
When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
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.
Πάντων δὲ καταπεσόντων ἡμῶν εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἤκουσα φωνὴν λαλοῦσαν πρός με καὶ λέγουσαν τῇ Ἑβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ, Σαούλ, Σαούλ, τί με διώκεις; Σκληρόν σοι πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειν.
Pantōn de katapesontōn hēmōn eis tēn gēn, ēkousa phōnēn lalousan pros me kai legousan tē Hebraidi dialektō, Saoul, Saoul, ti me diōkeis? Sklēron soi pros kentra laktizein.
I asked, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ He answered, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
Ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπον, Τίς εἶ, κύριε; Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, Ἐγώ εἰμι Ἰησοῦς ὃν σὺ διώκεις.
Egō de eipon, Tis ei, kyrie? Ho de eipen, Egō eimi Iēsous hon sy diōkeis.
But get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as My servant and witness—both to what you have seen and to what I will reveal when I appear to you.
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;
Ἀλλὰ ἀνάστηθι, καὶ στῆθι ἐπὶ τοὺς πόδας σου∙ εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ὤφθην σοι, προχειρίσασθαί σε ὑπηρέτην καὶ μάρτυρα ὧν τε εἶδες ὧν τε ὀφθήσομαί σοι,
Alla anastēthi, kai stēthi epi tous podas sou; eis touto gar ōphthēn soi, procheirisasthai se hypēretēn kai martyra hōn te eides hōn te ophthēsomai soi,
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you.
Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
ἐξαιρούμενός σε ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν, εἰς οὓς ἐγώ σε ἀποστέλλω,
exairoumenos se ek tou laou kai tōn ethnōn, eis hous egō se apostellō,
You are to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from Satan’s authority to God. Then they may receive forgiveness for their sins and a share among those made holy through faith in Me.’
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.
ἀνοῖξαι ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν, τοῦ ὑποστρέψαι ἀπὸ σκότους εἰς φῶς καὶ τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ Σατανᾶ ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν, τοῦ λαβεῖν αὐτοὺς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν, καὶ κλῆρον ἐν τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις πίστει τῇ εἰς ἐμέ.
anoixai ophthalmous autōn, tou hypostrepsai apo skotous eis phōs kai tēs exousias tou Satana epi ton theon, tou labein autous aphesin hamartiōn, kai klēron en tois hēgiasmenois pistei tē eis eme.
“So, King Agrippa, I did not disobey that vision from heaven.
Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
Ὅθεν, βασιλεῦ Ἀγρίππα, οὐκ ἐγενόμην ἀπειθὴς τῇ οὐρανίῳ ὀπτασίᾳ,
Hothen, basileu Agrippa, ouk egenomēn apeithēs tē ouraniō optasia,
First in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout Judea, and also among the Gentiles, I proclaimed that people must repent and turn to God, living in a way that fits their repentance.
But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἐν Δαμασκῷ πρῶτον καὶ Ἱεροσολύμοις, εἰς πᾶσάν τε τὴν χώραν τῆς Ἰουδαίας, καὶ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ἀπαγγέλλων μετανοεῖν, καὶ ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν, ἄξια τῆς μετανοίας ἔργα πράσσοντας.
alla tois en Damaskō prōton kai Hierosolymois, eis pasan te tēn chōran tēs Ioudaias, kai tois ethnesin, apangellōn metanoein, kai epistrephein epi ton theon, axia tēs metanoias erga prassontas.
Because of these things, the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
Ἕνεκα τούτων οἱ Ἰουδαῖοί με συλλαβόμενοι ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ ἐπειρῶντο διαχειρίσασθαι.
Heneka toutōn hoi Ioudaioi me syllabomenoi en tō hierō epeirōnto diacheirisasthai.
But God has helped me, and I stand here to this day, testifying to ordinary people and the powerful alike. I say nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:
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:
Ἐπικουρίας οὖν τυχὼν τῆς παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, ἄχρι τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ἕστηκα μαρτυρόμενος μικρῷ τε καὶ μεγάλῳ, οὐδὲν ἐκτὸς λέγων ὧν τε οἱ προφῆται ἐλάλησαν μελλόντων γίνεσθαι καὶ Μωϋσῆς,
Epikourias oun tychōn tēs para tou theou, achri tēs hēmeras tautēs hestēka martyromenos mikrō te kai megalō, ouden ektos legōn hōn te hoi prophētai elalēsan mellontōn ginesthai kai Mōysēs,
that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would announce light to our people and to the Gentiles.”
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.
εἰ παθητὸς ὁ χριστός, εἰ πρῶτος ἐξ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν φῶς μέλλει καταγγέλλειν τῷ λαῷ καὶ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν.
ei pathētos ho christos, ei prōtos ex anastaseōs nekrōn phōs mellei katangellein tō laō kai tois ethnesin.
At this point in Paul’s defense, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are out of your mind! All your learning is driving you mad!”
And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
Ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ ἀπολογουμένου, ὁ Φῆστος μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ ἔφη, Μαίνῃ, Παῦλε∙ τὰ πολλά σε γράμματα εἰς μανίαν περιτρέπει.
Tauta de autou apologoumenou, ho Phēstos megalē tē phōnē ephē, Mainē, Paule; ta polla se grammata eis manian peritrepei.
Paul replied, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus. What I am saying is true and sensible.
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
Ὁ δέ, Οὐ μαίνομαι, φησίν, κράτιστε Φῆστε, ἀλλὰ ἀληθείας καὶ σωφροσύνης ῥήματα ἀποφθέγγομαι.
Ho de, Ou mainomai, phēsin, kratiste Phēste, alla alētheias kai sōphrosynēs rhēmata apophthengomai.
The king knows about these things, and I can speak to him freely. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice. These events did not happen in some hidden corner.
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.
Ἐπίσταται γὰρ περὶ τούτων ὁ βασιλεύς, πρὸς ὃν καὶ παρρησιαζόμενος λαλῶ∙ λανθάνειν γὰρ αὐτόν τι τούτων οὐ πείθομαι οὐδέν∙ οὐ γὰρ ἐν γωνίᾳ πεπραγμένον τοῦτο.
Epistatai gar peri toutōn ho basileus, pros hon kai parrēsiazomenos lalō; lanthanein gar auton ti toutōn ou peithomai ouden; ou gar en gōnia pepragmenon touto.
King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
Πιστεύεις, βασιλεῦ Ἀγρίππα, τοῖς προφήταις; Οἶδα ὅτι πιστεύεις.
Pisteueis, basileu Agrippa, tois prophētais? Oida hoti pisteueis.
Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian in so little time?”
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Ὁ δὲ Ἀγρίππας πρὸς τὸν Παῦλον ἔφη, Ἐν ὀλίγῳ με πείθεις Χριστιανὸν γενέσθαι.
Ho de Agrippas pros ton Paulon ephē, En oligō me peitheis Christianon genesthai.
Paul answered, “Whether it takes a little time or a great deal, my prayer to God is that not only you, but everyone listening to me today, would become what I am—except for these chains.”
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.
Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος εἶπεν, Εὐξαίμην ἂν τῷ θεῷ, καὶ ἐν ὀλίγῳ καὶ ἐν πολλῷ οὐ μόνον σε, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντάς μου σήμερον, γενέσθαι τοιούτους ὁποῖος κἀγώ εἰμι, παρεκτὸς τῶν δεσμῶν τούτων.
Ho de Paulos eipen, Euxaimēn an tō theō, kai en oligō kai en pollō ou monon se, alla kai pantas tous akouontas mou sēmeron, genesthai toioutous hopoios kagō eimi, parektos tōn desmōn toutōn.
When he had said this, the king rose, along with the governor, Bernice, and those seated with them.
And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπόντος αὐτοῦ, ἀνέστη ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ὁ ἡγεμών, ἥ τε Βερνίκη, καὶ οἱ συγκαθήμενοι αὐτοῖς∙
Kai tauta eipontos autou, anestē ho basileus kai ho hēgemōn, hē te Bernikē, kai hoi synkathēmenoi autois;
After leaving the room, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing deserving death or imprisonment.”
And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
καὶ ἀναχωρήσαντες ἐλάλουν πρὸς ἀλλήλους, λέγοντες ὅτι Οὐδὲν θανάτου ἄξιον ἢ δεσμῶν πράσσει ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος.
kai anachōrēsantes elaloun pros allēlous, legontes hoti Ouden thanatou axion ē desmōn prassei ho anthrōpos houtos.
Agrippa told Festus, “He could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.
Ἀγρίππας δὲ τῷ Φήστῳ ἔφη, Ἀπολελύσθαι ἐδύνατο ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος, εἰ μὴ ἐπεκέκλητο Καίσαρα.
Agrippas de tō Phēstō ephē, Apolelysthai edynato ho anthrōpos houtos, ei mē epekeklēto Kaisara.