Ma'ashym (Acts) — 26
Shaul Defense himself before Agrippa
1 Then Agrippa said to Shaul, “You may speak in your defense.” So Shaul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense:
2 “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Yahudym leaders,
3 for I know you are an expert on all Yahudym customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!
4 “As the Yahudym leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Yahudym training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Yahushalam.
5 If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.
6 Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s promise made to our fathers.
7 In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Yashar'AL zealously worship 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope!
8 Why does it seem incredible to any of you that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH can raise the dead?
9 “I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very Name of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA the Nazarym.
10 Indeed, I did just that in Yahushalam. Authorized by the leading Kuhanym, I caused many believers of Truth in Yahushalam to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death.
11 Many times I had them punished in the Yahudym congregation to get them to curse 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.
12 “One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading Kuhanym.
13 About midday, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from Shamaym brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions.
14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Abarym (Hebrew), ‘Shaul, Shaul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my Will.’
15 “‘Who are you, Master?’ I asked. “And the Master replied, ‘I Am 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA, the One you are persecuting.
16 Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen Me, and tell them what I will show you in the future.
17 And I will rescue you from both your own people and the other nations. Yes, I am sending you to the other nations,
18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the traps of ha'shatan to the Power of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s people, who are set apart by Amunah in Me.’
19 “And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from Shamaym.
20 I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Yahushalam and throughout all Yahudah, and also to the other nations, that all must repent of their sins and turn to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, and prove they have changed by the good things they do.
21 Some Yahudym arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me.
22 But 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the Nabyms and Musha said would happen
23 That Ha'Mashyach would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s light to the Yahudym and the other nations alike.”
24 Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Shaul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”
25 But Shaul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober Truth.
26 And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner!
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the Nabyms? I know you do”
28 Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a believer so quickly?”
29 Shaul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”
30 Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left.
31 As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, “This man has not done anything to deserve death or imprisonment.”
32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “He could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”