In that honourable Audience being permitted to speake, 2. he declareth to the King what he first
was, 12. and how miraculously he was conuerted, 19. and that he hath preached since, as he was
commanded from Heauen, and as the Prophets had foretold of Christ. 24. Which strange tale Festus
the Heathen President hearing, saith that he is mad. 25. But Paul answereth, & exhorteth them al to
be Christians as he is. 30. They finally pronounce that he might be set at libertie, but only for his
appeale.
1. BVT Agrippa said to Paul: Thou art permitted to speake for thy self. Then Paul
stretching forth his hand, began to make his answer:
2. Touching al things whereof I am accused of the Iewes, King Agrippa, I account
my self happie for that I am to defend my self this day before thee,
3. especially whereas thou knoweest al things that are among the Iewes, cutomes and
questions: for which cause I beseech thee, heare me patiently.
4. And my life truely from my youth, which was from the beginning in my Nation in
Hierusalem, al the Iewes doe know:
5. knowing me before from the beginning (if they wil giue testimonie) that according
to the most sure
✟
ὰίρεσιν.
sect of our religion I liued a Pharisee.
6. And now for the hope of the promise that was made of God to our Fathers, doe I
stand subiect to iudgement:
7.
✟
in qua
the which, our twelue Tribes
✟
λατρεῦον.
seruing night and day, hope to come vnto. Of the which
hope, o King, I am accused of the Iewes.
8. What incredible thing is it iudged with you, if God raise the dead?
9. And my self truely had thought that I ought to doe against the name of Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ
of Nazareth many contrarie things.
10. Which also I
*
Act. 8,3.
did at Hierusalem, and many of the Saints did I shut vp prisons,
hauing receiued authoritie of the cheefe Priests: and when they were put to death,
✟
detuli sententiam
I brought the
sentence.
11. And throughout al the Synagogues oftentimes punishing them, I compelled them to
blaspheme: and yet more mad against them I persecuted them euen vnto forraine cities.
12. Among which things whiles
*
Act. 9,3.
I went to Damascus with authoritie and permission of
the cheefe Priests,
13. at mid-day, in the way, I saw (o King) from Heauen a light to haue shined round
about me and them that were in companie with me, aboue the brightnes of the sunne.
14. And when al we were fallen downe on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in
the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kicke against the
pricke.
15. And I said: Who are thou Lord? And our Lord answered: I am Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ whom
thou doest persecute.
16. But rise vp and stand vpon thy feet: for to this end haue I appeared to thee, that
I may ordaine thee a Minister and witnes of those things which thou hast seen, and of those
things wherein I wil appeare to thee,
17. deliuering thee out of the peoples and Nations vnto the which now I send thee,
18. to open their eyes, that they may be conuerted from darkenes to light, and from
the power of Satan to God, that they may receiue remission of sinnes, and lot among the Saints
by the faith that is in me.
19. Whereupon, King Agrippa, I was not incredulous to the heauenly vision:
20. but to them first that are at Damascus, and at Hierusalem, and vnto al the
countrie of Iewrie, and to the Gentils
*
Act. 9,20.
did I preach that they should doe
✟
Penance often inculcated, and workes agreable to the same.
penance, & turne to God,
doing workes worthie of penance.
21. For this cause the Iewes, when I was in the Temple,
*
Act. 21,30.
apprehending me, attempted
meaning to kil me.
22. But aided by the help of God, I stand vntil this day, testifying to smal & to
great, saying nothing beside those things which the Prophets did speake should come to passe, &
Moyses;
23. if Christ were passible, if the first of the resurrection from the dead,
he were to shew light to the people and to the Gentils.
24. As he spake these things and made his answer, Festus with a loud voice said: Thou
art mad, Paul; much learning turneth thee to madnesse.
25. And Paul said: I am not mad, most excellent Festus; but I speake words of
veritie & sobrietie.
26. For the King knoweth of these things, to whom also I speake constantly. For I
thinke none of these things to be vnknowen to him. For neither was any of these things done in
a corner.
27. Beleeuest thou the Prophets, King Agrippa? I know that thou beleeuest.
28. And Agrippa said to Paul: A litle thou persuadest me to become a Christian.
29. And Paul said: I wish of God, both in litle, and in much, not only thee, but also
al that heare this day, to become such as I am also, except these bands.
30. And the King rose vp, and the President, and Bernice, and they that sate by them.
31. And going aside, they spake among themselues, saying, That this man hath done
nothing worthie of death or bands.
32. And Agrippa said to Festus: This man might be released, if he had not appealed
to Cæsar.