12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the princes of the priests, 13 at midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou dost persecute. 16 But rise and stand upon thy feet, for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen and of those things in which I will appear unto thee; 17 delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee 18 to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and inheritance among those who are sanctified by the faith that is in me.
19 Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision, 20 but I announced first unto those of Damascus and at Jerusalem and throughout all the coasts of Judaea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 21 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple and went about to kill me. 22 Having, therefore, obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said should come: 23 that the Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should show light unto this people and to the Gentiles.
24 And as he spoke these things and answered for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth words of truth and temperance. 26 For the king knows of these things, before whom I also speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him, for this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, dost thou believe the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 29 And Paul said, I desire before God that by little or by much, not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were such as I am, except these bonds.
30 And when he had said these things, the king rose up and the governor and Bernice and those that sat with them; 31 and when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds. 32 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty if he had not appealed unto Caesar.