Paul Tells His Story to Agrippa

King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea and visited Festus. Festus explained Paul’s case. He said the religious leaders in Jerusalem wanted a sentence against Paul, but Roman law required an accused person to meet the accusers and answer for himself. Festus had heard the case, yet the dispute seemed to be about their religion and about Jesus, whom Paul said was alive.

Because Paul had appealed to the emperor, Festus kept him in custody until he could be sent on. Agrippa asked to hear Paul, so the next day a formal hearing was arranged. Agrippa, Bernice, military officers, and leading men of the city gathered. Festus said he had found nothing deserving death in Paul, but he needed something clear to write when sending him.

Paul began respectfully. He said he had long been known among the Jews and had once lived as a Pharisee. Now, he said, he was on trial because of the hope God had promised to their fathers. He asked why anyone should think it unbelievable that God raises the dead.

Then Paul told his own story. He had once worked hard against the name of Jesus, imprisoning believers and pursuing them even to other cities. On the road to Damascus, at noon, a light brighter than the sun shone around him and those travelling with him. Paul heard Jesus speak to him and appoint him to be a servant and witness, sent to open people’s eyes so they might turn to God.

Paul said he had obeyed that heavenly vision. He preached in Damascus, Jerusalem, throughout Judea, and among the Gentiles, calling people to repent and turn to God. That, he said, was why some seized him in the temple. Yet with God’s help he kept testifying that the prophets and Moses had pointed forward to the Christ suffering and, by being raised from the dead, proclaiming light to Jews and Gentiles.

Festus interrupted and said Paul’s learning had made him mad. Paul answered calmly that he was speaking truth and reason. Then he asked Agrippa about the prophets. Agrippa replied that Paul was trying to persuade him to become a Christian. Paul said he wished everyone listening could become as he was, except for his chains. Afterwards the rulers agreed Paul had done nothing deserving death or imprisonment, though his appeal to Caesar remained.