1 THEN Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

2  I think myself happy, [ He was told to be of good cheer. So either he is convincing himself of that or he really is as things now seem to be headed in the right direction. In addition; Agrippa is a Jew. And so Paul's like, "Finally, I get to explain this to a Jew, not to a Felix, not to Festus. They're Romans. You'll understand me Agrippa, when I say what I'm about to tell you." ] king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: [ I think that the fact has been established now that he has not done anything that is against Roman law. So only the concerns of the Jews needs to be addressed. ]

3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.

4  My manner of life from my youth, [ Since I was very young I have been a Jew. ] which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

5  Which knew me from the beginning, [ Go ask my neighbors if I was not a Jew, but also a Pharisee, and I kept the law in exactness. ] if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect [ The ones to whom the law was everything. ] of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: [ What hope's he talking about? He says in verse eight, "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" So Agrippa is a Jew, and apparently, the more popular Jewish opinion is that resurrection's a reality. Sadducees don't believe it, but they're a small group compared to the group that believes in resurrection. And so he's appealing to that within Agrippa. ]

7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

8  Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? [ Or if God created the earth, and God has promised us a life after this life with him then why is it so strange that God could give someone new life after death? ]

9  I verily thought with myself, [ I had a good understanding of the law of Moses as I was a Pharisee. ] that I ought to do many things contrary [ Because of that understanding I did a lot of things that were according to the laws which I understood. These things we not the things that Jesus taught. But at that time I was doing what I thought was right and only that. ] to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

10  Which thing [ I administered the law as I understood it. ] I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, [ So I put the law breakers away, and I was really good at it. ] having received authority from the chief priests; [ And I did so with full authority of the priests. ] and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, [ I was doing my job in a way because I could not believe that any Jew would in his right mind go against the law, and if the did they needed to be put to death because it just made my skin boil. ] I persecuted them even unto strange cities. [ I went all over the country doing my job because I felt it was what I was called to do. ]

12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief 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 them which 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 persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. [ They places this sharp little shards on the underside of the carts down by the wheels. And if the oxes kicked to try to buck, those shards would prick them. ]

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

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, [ If we compare this to the Joseph Smith account we see that it is a little different from other times based on the audience. So for Jospeh to tell the story in a slightly different way is not uncommon. Here Paul suggests the purpose of the message. ] to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17  Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, [ Why? Why would he want to send Paul to the Gentiles? Here's the best answer, verse 18, "To open their eyes." Jesus wants the Gentiles to have their eyes open. "And to turn them from darkness to light," that's second reason. Third reason, "and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins." Forgiveness of sins is possible for Gentiles. And you know what that would do for them if they receive forgiveness of sins? Fourth reason, "and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith, that is in me." Whoa, inheritance, inheriting the promises made to Israel. "Paul, I want you to go out and declare repentance to the Gentiles. Turn them from darkness to light, from Satan to God, so they could be forgiven of their sins and become heirs of all the promises, all the promises made to those who are sanctified by faith that is in me." ]

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 forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: [ And from that time forward I have done what I was instructed to do. ]

20 But shewed first unto them 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, and do works meet for 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 none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

23  That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, [ Paul is again hitting his preaching stride, things are flowing from his tongue, he is feeling it and I suppose that he see's that some in the audience are feeling it as well as they are listening intently. ] and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. [ And then all of a sudden, Festus breaks the spell in, and he yells as loud as he can. The Greek here says, "As loud as he can, he says, 'Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.'" Have you lost your mind? You're crazy. Your education has made you crazy." We can see that today as well- haha. ]

25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

26  For the king knoweth of these things, [ Paul looks at the king and he says, "King, you know of these things, you know what I'm talking about. I'm persuaded that none of these things are hidden from you; for this thing was not done in a corner." Then he puts the king on the spot. Maybe not the smartest move, but he just went for it. This is Paul - he has no fear. ] before whom also I 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, believest thou the prophets? [ Or - Do you believe the Old Testament prophecies? ] I know that thou believest. [ I know that you do. So building on that... ]

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. [ New Living Translation, "Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?'" "With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian, Paul." With such a thin case, you think you can make me a Christian? Or do you think I would believe so quickly? Or can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian? ]

29 And Paul said, I would to God, [ Oh I wish it was so. ] that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, [ And not only you but everyone in the room here today. ] were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. [ A little humor here from Paul. He wants everyone was like me, and then he looks at the chains that he is bound with and says, "Except for these. Except these bonds, I wouldn't recommend that part to you." ]

30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: [ Evidence here that not all missionary moments or good preaching results in conversion. But at least a seed was planted. ]

31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. [ He is innocent in all charges. He should be set free. ]

32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar. [ He would be set free except that he has appealed to Ceasar. So now we start to see the wisdom of Paul in appealing to Caesar. If he was now set at liberty, he could have found his way to Rome, but in this case, he's going to get a Roman guard escorting him to Rome. And he's going to get actual audience with the big man himself, the ruler, the emperor, Caesar. And that's even a better way. Appeal to Caesar. So Agrippa would have let him go at this point, but he does not, because of the appeal to Caesar. The hand of God? ]