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                                                                                         JULY 26
                   earnestly serving  God night and day, hope to
                   attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am
                   accused by the Jews.  Why should it be thought
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                   incredible by you that God raises the dead?  26:24 you are beside yourself! Festus was
                     9 “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many  astonished that a learned scholar like Paul
                   things contrary to the name of Jesus of Naza-  could actually believe that the dead would
                       10
                   reth.  This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of  live again—something no intelligent Roman
                   the saints I shut up in prison, having received  would accept. Unable to contain himself, he
                   authority from the chief priests; and when they  interrupted the proceedings, shouting that
                   were put to death, I cast my vote against them.  Paul’s tremendous learning had driven him
                   11 And I punished them often in every syna-  insane (Mark 3:21; John 8:48,52; 10:20).
                   gogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and
                   being exceedingly enraged against them, I per-
                   secuted them even to foreign cities.   Festus, but speak the words of truth and rea-
                     12 “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to  son.  For the king, before whom I also speak
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                   Damascus with authority and commission  freely, knows these things; for I am convinced
                   from the chief priests,  at midday, O king,  that none of these things escapes his attention,
                                      13
                   along the road I saw a light from heaven,  since this thing was not done in a corner.
                   brighter than the sun, shining around me and  27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I
                   those who journeyed with me.  And when we  know that you do believe.”
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                   all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice  28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost
                   speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew lan-  persuade me to become a Christian.”
                   guage, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting
                   Me?  It is hard for you to kick against the
                   goads.’  So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And
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                   He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecut-  26:26 not done in a corner.The death of Jesus
                   ing.  But rise and stand on your feet; for I  and the Christians’ claim that He rose from the
                       16
                   have appeared to you for this purpose, to  dead were common knowledge in Palestine.
                   make you a minister and a witness both of the
                   things which you have seen and of the things  26:27 do you believe the prophets? Paul’s
                   which I will yet reveal to you.  I will deliver  shrewd question put Herod in a dilemma.If he
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                   you from the Jewish people, as well as from the  affirmed his belief in the prophets, he would
                   Gentiles, to whom I now send you,  to open  also have to admit that what they taught about
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                   their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness  Jesus’ death and resurrection was true—an
                   to light, and from the power of Satan to God,  admission that would make him appear foolish
                   that they may receive forgiveness of sins and  before his Roman friends. Yet to deny the
                   an inheritance among those who are sancti-  prophets would outrage his Jewish subjects.
                   fied by faith in Me.’
                     19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not  26:28  You almost persuade me. A better
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                   disobedient to the heavenly vision,  but de-  translation is “Do you think you can convince
                   clared first to those in Damascus and in Jeru-  me to become a Christian in such a short time?”
                   salem, and throughout all the region of Judea,  Recognizing his dilemma, Agrippa parried
                   and  then to the Gentiles, that they should  Paul’s question with one of his own.
                   repent, turn to God, and do works befitting
                              21
                   repentance.  For these reasons the Jews
                   seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.  29 And Paul said, “I would to God that not
                   22 Therefore, having obtained help from God,  only you, but also all who hear me today,
                   to this day I stand, witnessing both to small  might become both almost and altogether
                   and great, saying no other things than those  such as I am, except for these chains.”
                   which the prophets and Moses said would  30 When he had said these things, the king
                   come—  that the Christ would suffer, that He  stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice
                          23
                                                                                 31
                   would be the first to rise from the dead, and  and those who sat with them;  and when they
                   would proclaim light to the Jewish people and  had gone aside, they talked among them-
                   to the Gentiles.”                      selves, saying, “This man is doing nothing
                     24 Now as he thus made his defense, Festus  deserving of death or chains.”
                   said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside  32 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man
                   yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”  might have been set free if he had not
                     25 But he said, “I am not mad, most noble  appealed to Caesar.”

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