The Resurrection

28 ^(A)Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and ^(B)the other Mary went to see the tomb. ² And behold, there was a great earthquake, for ^(C)an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ^3 (D)His appearance was like lightning, and ^(E)his clothing white as snow. ⁴ And for fear of him the guards trembled and ^(F)became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, ^(G)as he said. Come, see the place where he^[a] lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, ^(H)he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” ⁸ So they departed quickly from the tomb ^(I)with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ And behold, Jesus ^(J)met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and ^(K)took hold of his feet and ^(L)worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; ^(M)go and tell ^(N)my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

The Report of the Guard

¹¹ While they were going, behold, some of ^(O)the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. ¹² And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers ¹³ and said, “Tell people, ^(P)‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ And if this comes to ^(Q)the governor's ears, we will ^(R)satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews ^(S)to this day.

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples ^(T)went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him they ^(U)worshiped him, but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, ^(V)“All authority ^(W)in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ^19 (X)Go therefore and ^(Y)make disciples of ^(Z)all nations, ^(AA)baptizing them ^(AB)in^{[b] (AC)}the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them ^(AD)to observe all that ^(AE)I have commanded you. And behold, ^(AF)I am with you always, to ^(AG)the end of the age.”

The Resurrection

16 ^(A)(B)When the Sabbath was past, ^(C)Mary Magdalene, ^(D)Mary the mother of James, and ^(E)Salome ^(F)bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. ² And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. ³ And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away ^(G)the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” ⁴ And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—^(H)it was very large. ⁵ And ^(I)entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, ^(J)dressed in ^(K)a white robe, and ^(L)they were alarmed. ⁶ And he said to them, ^(M)“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter that ^(N)he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, ^(O)just as he told you.” ⁸ And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

[Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9–20.]^[a]

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

⁹ [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, ^(P)he appeared first to ^(Q)Mary Magdalene, ^(R)from whom he had cast out seven demons. ^10 (S)She went and told those who had been with him, ^(T)as they ^(U)mourned and wept. ¹¹ But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they ^(V)would not believe it.

Jesus Appears to Two Disciples

^12 (W)After these things ^(X)he appeared in ^(Y)another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. ^13 (Z)And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

The Great Commission

¹⁴ Afterward ^(AA)he appeared ^(AB)to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their ^(AC)unbelief and ^(AD)hardness of heart, because ^(AE)they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. ¹⁵ And he said to them, ^(AF)“Go into all the world and ^(AG)proclaim the gospel to ^(AH)the whole creation. ^16 (AI)Whoever believes and is ^(AJ)baptized ^(AK)will be saved, but ^(AL)whoever ^(AM)does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And ^(AN)these signs will accompany those who believe: ^(AO)in my name they will cast out demons; ^(AP)they will speak in new tongues; ^18 (AQ)they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; ^(AR)they will lay their hands ^(AS)on the sick, and they will recover.”

¹⁹ So then the Lord Jesus, ^(AT)after he had spoken to them, ^(AU)was taken up into heaven and ^(AV)sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, while ^(AW)the Lord worked with them and confirmed ^(AX)the message ^(AY)by accompanying signs.]]

The Resurrection

24 ^(A)But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, ^(B)taking the spices they had prepared. ² And they found ^(C)the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were perplexed about this, behold, ^(D)two ^(E)men stood by them in dazzling apparel. ⁵ And as they were ^(F)frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, ^(G)while he was still in Galilee, ^7 (H)that the Son of Man ^(I)must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and ^(J)be crucified and on ^(K)the third day rise.” ⁸ And ^(L)they remembered his words, ⁹ and returning from the tomb they ^(M)told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ Now it was ^(N)Mary Magdalene and ^(O)Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, ¹¹ but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and ^(P)they did not believe them. ¹² But ^(Q)Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw ^(R)the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ That very day ^(S)two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles^[a] from Jerusalem, ¹⁴ and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. ^16 (T)But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” ¹⁹ And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was ^(U)a prophet ^(V)mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and ^(W)how our chief priests and ^(X)rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was ^(Y)the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now ^(Z)the third day since these things happened. ²² Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. ^(AA)They were at the tomb early in the morning, ²³ and ^(AB)when they did not find his body, they came back saying that ^(AC)they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. ^24 (AD)Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” ²⁵ And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ^26 (AE)Was it not necessary that ^(AF)the Christ should suffer these things and enter into ^(AG)his glory?” ²⁷ And ^(AH)beginning with ^(AI)Moses and ^(AJ)all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

²⁸ So they drew near to the village to which they were going. ^(AK)He acted as if he were going farther, ²⁹ but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and ^(AL)the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at table with them, he took the bread and ^(AM)blessed and broke it and gave it to them. ^31 (AN)And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And ^(AO)he vanished from their sight. ³² They said to each other, ^(AP)“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he ^(AQ)opened to us the Scriptures?” ³³ And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they ^(AR)found the eleven and ^(AS)those who were with them gathered together, ³⁴ saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and ^(AT)has appeared to Simon!” ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road, and ^(AU)how he was known to them in ^(AV)the breaking of the bread.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

³⁶ As they were talking about these things, ^(AW)Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” ³⁷ But they were ^(AX)startled and ^(AY)frightened and ^(AZ)thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. ^(BA)Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, ^(BB)he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved ^(BC)for joy and were marveling, ^(BD)he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish,^{[b] 43} and he took it and ate before them.

⁴⁴ Then he said to them, ^(BE)“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, ^(BF)that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then ^(BG)he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus ^(BH)it is written, ^(BI)that the Christ should suffer and on the third day ^(BJ)rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that ^(BK)repentance for^[c] the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed ^(BL)in his name ^(BM)to all nations, ^(BN)beginning from Jerusalem. ^48 (BO)You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending ^(BP)the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you ^(BQ)are clothed with ^(BR)power ^(BS)from on high.”

The Ascension

⁵⁰ And ^(BT)he led them out as far as ^(BU)Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he blessed them, ^(BV)he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they ^(BW)worshiped him and ^(BX)returned to Jerusalem ^(BY)with great joy, ⁵³ and ^(BZ)were continually in the temple ^(CA)blessing God.

The Resurrection

20 ^(A)Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that ^(B)the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, ^(C)the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and ^(D)we do not know where they have laid him.” ^3 (E)So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. ⁴ Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ And stooping to look in, he saw ^(F)the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and ^(G)the face cloth, which had been on Jesus'^[a] head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, ^(H)who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet ^(I)they did not understand the Scripture, ^(J)that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² And ^(K)she saw ^(L)two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, ^(M)“Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, ^(N)“They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and ^(O)saw Jesus standing, ^(P)but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, ^(Q)“Woman, why are you weeping? ^(R)Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be ^(S)the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,^{[b] (T)}“Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to ^(U)my brothers and say to them, ^(V)‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to ^(W)my God and your God.’” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene ^(X)went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

^19 (Y)On the evening ^(Z)of that day, the first day of the week, ^(AA)the doors being locked where the disciples were ^(AB)for fear of the Jews,^[c] Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ^(AC)“Peace be with you.” ²⁰ When he had said this, ^(AD)he showed them his hands and his side. Then ^(AE)the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As ^(AF)the Father has sent me, ^(AG)even so I am sending you.” ²² And when he had said this, he ^(AH)breathed on them and said to them, ^(AI)“Receive the Holy Spirit. ^23 (AJ)If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Jesus and Thomas

²⁴ Now ^(AK)Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin,^[d] was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, ^(AL)“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. ^(AM)Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ^(AN)“Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, ^(AO)“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, ^(AP)“My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? ^(AQ)Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of This Book

^30 (AR)Now Jesus did many other signs ^(AS)in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ^31 (AT)but these are written so that you may ^(AU)believe that Jesus is the Christ, ^(AV)the Son of God, and that by believing ^(AW)you may have life ^(AX)in his name.

Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

21 After this Jesus ^(AY)revealed himself ^(AZ)again to the disciples by ^(BA)the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. ² Simon Peter, ^(BB)Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of ^(BC)Cana in Galilee, ^(BD)the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. ³ Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but ^(BE)that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples ^(BF)did not know that it was Jesus. ^5 (BG)Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” ^6 (BH)He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. ⁷ That disciple ^(BI)whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, ^(BJ)he put on his outer garment, for he was ^(BK)stripped for work, and ^(BL)threw himself into the sea. ⁸ The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards^[e] off.

⁹ When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, ^(BM)“Come and ^(BN)have breakfast.” Now ^(BO)none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came and ^(BP)took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. ^14 (BQ)This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus and Peter

¹⁵ When they had ^(BR)finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ^(BS)“Simon, ^(BT)son of John, ^(BU)do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed ^(BV)my lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, ^(BW)“Tend ^(BX)my sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him ^(BY)the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, ^(BZ)you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed ^(CA)my sheep. ^18 (CB)Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, ^(CC)you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ (This he said to show ^(CD)by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, ^(CE)“Follow me.”

Jesus and the Beloved Apostle

²⁰ Peter turned and saw ^(CF)the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, ^(CG)the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” ²¹ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” ²² Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain ^(CH)until ^(CI)I come, what is that to you? ^(CJ)You follow me!” ²³ So the saying spread abroad among ^(CK)the brothers^[f] that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

²⁴ This is the disciple ^(CL)who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and ^(CM)we know ^(CN)that his testimony is true.

²⁵ Now ^(CO)there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that ^(CP)the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

The Conversion of Saul

9 But Saul, ^(A)still ^(B)breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to ^(C)the high priest ² and asked him for letters ^(D)to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to ^(E)the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ^3 (F)Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. ⁴ And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ^(G)me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, ^(H)whom you are persecuting. ⁶ But ^(I)rise and enter the city, and you will be told ^(J)what you are to do.” ^7 (K)The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, ^(L)hearing the voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, ^(M)he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰ Now there was a disciple at Damascus named ^(N)Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, ^(O)“Here I am, Lord.” ¹¹ And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man ^(P)of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, ¹² and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and ^(Q)lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” ¹³ But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, ^(R)how much evil he has done to ^(S)your ^(T)saints at Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from ^(U)the chief priests to bind all who ^(V)call on your name.” ¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for ^(W)he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name ^(X)before the Gentiles and ^(Y)kings and the children of Israel. ¹⁶ For ^(Z)I will show him how much ^(AA)he must suffer ^(AB)for the sake of my name.” ¹⁷ So ^(AC)Ananias departed and entered the house. And ^(AD)laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and ^(AE)be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and ^(AF)he regained his sight. Then ^(AG)he rose and was baptized; ¹⁹ and ^(AH)taking food, he was strengthened.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

For ^(AI)some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. ²⁰ And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ^(AJ)“He is the Son of God.” ²¹ And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who ^(AK)made havoc ^(AL)in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” ²² But Saul ^(AM)increased all the more in strength, and ^(AN)confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving ^(AO)that Jesus was the Christ.

⁴⁰ And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, ^(A)motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in ^(B)the Hebrew language,^[a] saying:

22 ^(C)“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

² And when they heard that he was addressing them in ^(D)the Hebrew language,^[b] they became even more quiet. And he said:

^3 (E)“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated ^(F)at the feet of ^(G)Gamaliel^{[c] (H)}according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, ^(I)being zealous for God ^(J)as all of you are this day. ^4 (K)I persecuted ^(L)this Way ^(M)to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, ⁵ as ^(N)the high priest and ^(O)the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to ^(P)the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

^6 (Q)“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. ⁷ And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ ⁸ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am ^(R)Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ ^9 (S)Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand^[d] the voice of the one who was speaking to me. ¹⁰ And I said, ^(T)‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ ¹¹ And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

¹² “And ^(U)one Ananias, a devout man ^(V)according to the law, ^(W)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, ^13 (X)came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And ^(Y)at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. ¹⁴ And he said, ^(Z)‘The God of our fathers ^(AA)appointed you to know his will, ^(AB)to see ^(AC)the Righteous One and ^(AD)to hear a voice from his mouth; ¹⁵ for ^(AE)you will be a witness for him to everyone of what ^(AF)you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why do you wait? ^(AG)Rise and be baptized and ^(AH)wash away your sins, ^(AI)calling on his name.’

^17 (AJ)“When I had returned to Jerusalem and ^(AK)was praying in the temple, I fell into ^(AL)a trance ¹⁸ and saw him saying to me, ^(AM)‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ ¹⁹ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another ^(AN)I imprisoned and ^(AO)beat those who believed in you. ²⁰ And when the blood of Stephen ^(AP)your witness was being shed, ^(AQ)I myself was standing by and ^(AR)approving and ^(AS)watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ ²¹ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you ^(AT)far away to the Gentiles.’”

Paul's Defense Before Agrippa

26 So ^(A)Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:

² “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today ^(B)against all the accusations of the Jews, ³ especially because you are familiar with all the ^(C)customs and ^(D)controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

^4 (E)“My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among ^(F)my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. ⁵ They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that ^(G)according to the strictest ^(H)party of our ^(I)religion I have lived as ^(J)a Pharisee. ⁶ And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in ^(K)the promise made by God to our fathers, ^7 (L)to which ^(M)our twelve tribes hope to ^(N)attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope ^(O)I am accused by Jews, O king! ⁸ Why is it thought ^(P)incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

^9 (Q)“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of ^(R)Jesus of Nazareth. ^10 (S)And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority ^(T)from the chief priests, but ^(U)when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. ¹¹ And ^(V)I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them ^(W)blaspheme, and ^(X)in raging fury against them I ^(Y)persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Paul Tells of His Conversion

¹² “In this connection ^(Z)I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. ¹³ At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. ¹⁴ And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me ^(AA)in the Hebrew language,^[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ ¹⁵ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But rise and ^(AB)stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, ^(AC)to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, ^17 (AD)delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—^(AE)to whom I ^(AF)am sending you ^18 (AG)to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from ^(AH)the power of Satan to God, that they may receive ^(AI)forgiveness of sins and ^(AJ)a place among those who are sanctified ^(AK)by faith in me.’

¹⁹ “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to ^(AL)the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but declared first ^(AM)to those in Damascus, ^(AN)then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also ^(AO)to the Gentiles, that they should ^(AP)repent and ^(AQ)turn to God, performing deeds ^(AR)in keeping with their repentance. ²¹ For this reason ^(AS)the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. ^22 (AT)To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so ^(AU)I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what ^(AV)the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: ^23 (AW)that the Christ ^(AX)must suffer and that, ^(AY)by being the first ^(AZ)to rise from the dead, ^(BA)he would proclaim ^(BB)light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”