Bible Verses About Select Readings

who ought to have been here before thee, and to make accusation, if they had aught against me.

Or else let these men themselves say what wrong-doing they found when I stood before the council,

except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question before you this day.

But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will determine your matter.

And he gave order to the centurion that he should be kept in charge, and should have indulgence; and not to forbid any of his friends to minister unto him.

But after certain days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.

And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me.

He hoped withal that money would be given him of Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.

And Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defence:

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defence before thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews:

especially because thou art expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

My manner of life then from my youth up, which was from the beginning among mine own nation and at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

having knowledge of me from the first, if they be willing to testify, that after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

And now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers;

unto which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. And concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O king!

Why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?

I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

And this I also did in Jerusalem: and I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.

And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.

Whereupon as I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,

at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them that journeyed with me.

And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying unto me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the goad.

And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee;