Acts 26

1 Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:

1 亞基帕對保羅說：「准你為自己辯明。」於是保羅伸手分訴，說：「

2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews,

2 亞基帕王啊，猶太人所告我的一切事，今日得在你面前分訴，實為萬幸；

3 especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.

3 更可幸的，是你熟悉猶太人的規矩和他們的辯論；所以求你耐心聽我。

4 Surely all the Jews know how I have lived from my earliest childhood among my own people, and also in Jerusalem.

4 我從起初在本國的民中，並在耶路撒冷，自幼為人如何，猶太人都知道。

5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion.

5 他們若肯作見證就曉得，我從起初是按着我們教中最嚴緊的教門作了法利賽人。

6 And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers,

6 現在我站在這裏受審，是因為指望上帝向我們祖宗所應許的；

7 the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews.

7 這應許，我們十二個支派，晝夜切切地事奉上帝，都指望得着。王啊，我被猶太人控告，就是因這指望。

8 Why would any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

8 上帝叫死人復活，你們為甚麼看作不可信的呢？

9 So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

9 從前我自己以為應當多方攻擊拿撒勒人耶穌的名，

10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem. With authority from the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.

10 我在耶路撒冷也曾這樣行了。既從祭司長得了權柄，我就把許多聖徒囚在監裏。他們被殺，我也出名定案。

11 I frequently had them punished in the synagogues, and I tried to make them blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.

11 在各會堂，我屢次用刑強逼他們說褻瀆的話，又分外惱恨他們，甚至追逼他們，直到外邦的城邑。」

12 In this pursuit I was on my way to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.

12 「那時，我領了祭司長的權柄和命令，往大馬士革去。

13 About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions.

13 王啊，我在路上，晌午的時候，看見從天發光，比日頭還亮，四面照着我並與我同行的人。

14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

14 我們都仆倒在地，我就聽見有聲音用希伯來話向我說：『掃羅！掃羅！為甚麼逼迫我？你用腳踢刺是難的！』

15 ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.

15 我說：『主啊，你是誰？』主說：『我就是你所逼迫的耶穌。

16 ‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you.

16 你起來站着，我特意向你顯現，要派你作執事，作見證，將你所看見的事和我將要指示你的事證明出來。

17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them

17 我也要救你脫離百姓和外邦人的手。

18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’

18 我差你到他們那裏去，要叫他們的眼睛得開，從黑暗中歸向光明，從撒但權下歸向上帝；又因信我，得蒙赦罪，和一切成聖的人同得基業。』」

19 So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.

19 「亞基帕王啊，我故此沒有違背那從天上來的異象；

20 First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.

20 先在大馬士革，後在耶路撒冷和猶太全地，以及外邦，勸勉他們應當悔改歸向上帝，行事與悔改的心相稱。

21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.

21 因此，猶太人在殿裏拿住我，想要殺我。

22 But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:

22 然而我蒙上帝的幫助，直到今日還站得住，對着尊貴、卑賤、老幼作見證；所講的並不外乎眾先知和摩西所說將來必成的事，

23 that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”

23 就是基督必須受害，並且因從死裏復活，要首先把光明的道傳給百姓和外邦人。」

24 At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”

24 保羅這樣分訴，非斯都大聲說：「保羅，你癲狂了吧。你的學問太大，反叫你癲狂了！」

25 But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.

25 保羅說：「非斯都大人，我不是癲狂，我說的乃是真實明白話。

26 For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him. I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.

26 王也曉得這些事，所以我向王放膽直言，我深信這些事沒有一件向王隱藏的，因都不是在背地裏做的。

27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

27 亞基帕王啊，你信先知嗎？我知道你是信的。」

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”

28 亞基帕對保羅說：「你想少微一勸，便叫我作基督徒啊 ！」

29 “Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”

29 保羅說：「無論是少勸是多勸，我向上帝所求的，不但你一個人，就是今天一切聽我的，都要像我一樣，只是不要像我有這些鎖鍊。」

30 Then the king and the governor rose, along with Bernice and those seated with them.

30 於是，王和巡撫並百妮基與同坐的人都起來，

31 On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”

31 退到裏面，彼此談論說：「這人並沒有犯甚麼該死該綁的罪。」

32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

32 亞基帕又對非斯都說：「這人若沒有上告於凱撒，就可以釋放了。」