Acts of the Apostles - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 1171

28-2

ACTS. 98-32

2 “ About everything i¤_ respect of I0 K! I2 which I am accused by the judemns, King Agxippa., I consider myself hagpy in being able to defend myself be ore you t0~day; especially so, as you are fully conversant with all the customs as well as the disputes of the udeans. I consequently beg you to {isten to me patiently. ’My mode of life from my youth

from my first coming into my nation at jerusalem, all judeans know; who knew me from the above time, if they would give evidence, that, ac· cording to the very strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. And now, for that Hope, which came from God a promise to our fathers, I stand trial; for which our twelve tribes con- stantly pray both night and day in conhdent expectation to secure- for that Hope, King, l am accused asacrimin by the judeansl ‘Wl1at! would it seem incredible

to you if God should raisethe dead ? I indeed persuaded myself that l ought to do much in opposition to the report about jesus of Nazareth: whichldid in jerusalem, where I shut up in prison many of the holy, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were being condemned to death, I voted against them. And throi§hout all the syna- gogues, I frequen yp forced them, by torturing, to blaspheme; and-furiously mad against them, I persecuted them also in distant cities. For which pur- posegroceeding to Damascus, holding an o ce and a commimion equal to that of the chief priests, at mid·day upon the rmd, King, I saw a light from heaven, eclipsing the splendour d me and f the sun. sh, i o , .nin&aroun x4 these travellingwi me., And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew dialect, '· Saull Saul! why-do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against, the pricks.’

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‘ Who are you,,Sir ?' I asked. ‘ But the Lord replied, ‘ I am jesus

Whom you persecute. Rise. up, how- ever, and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you to appoint you to bea ministeraud witness, both of what you learnt from Me, and also of what I will reveal -to you. Having educated you-among My people, as well as among the heathen, to whom I send you, to open their eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to that of God ; so that they mayreceive release from _sins, and a participation with the purified by faith in Me. 'After that, King Agrippa, I was

not apathetic to the heavenly vision; but hrst to those in Damascus, and then in jerusalem, as well as through- out the whole district of judea, and also among the heathen, I have announced a change of mind and return to God, leading a life of noble works, since that change. On account of these, some judeans, seizing me in the temple, attempted to overpower me. However, having obtained pro- tection·—·even the protection from God-·until this day I have stood bearing witness to both small and great; aserting nothing but what the prophem, as well as Moses, declared should como to pass — that the SuKering Messiah should, in the first lace, by means of a resurrection

fiom among the dead, proclaim light both to the people and to the As he was thus proceeding with his

defence, `Festus exclaimed with a loud ‘Paull you are mad! your great learning has turned to mad- I am not mad,

most noble Festus. On the contrary, I am uttering thoughts of truth and sanity : for the king understands about them, before whom also I speak with perfect frankness; because I am certain that none of these matters have escaped him: for this event was not done in a corner. King Agdppat do you believe the prophets? I know You

almost persuade me to be made a I wish to God that not only almost, but altogether not only you, but all who listen to me to-day-might become in every respect such as I am, except these bonds $ U t in E Q

Then the king arose, as well as the 3o Governor, and Bernice, and the others sitting with them; and withdrawing, 3: they discussed the case, among them- This man has done nothing deserving of death, nor even imprisonment. This 32 he had not appealed to the Emperor. 1171