² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,^(A) “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work^(B) to which I have called them.”^(C)

²² Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.”

He replied, “Tomorrow you will hear him.”^(A)

Paul Before Agrippa^(A)

²³ The next day Agrippa and Bernice^(B) came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”^(A)

So Paul motioned with his hand^(B) and began his defense:

⁷ On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task^(A) of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,^[a](B) just as Peter^(C) had been to the circumcised.^[b]

⁸ For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle^(A) to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle^(B) to the Gentiles.

⁷ I became a servant of this gospel^(A) by the gift of God’s grace given me^(B) through the working of his power.^(C)

⁸ Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,^(A) this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles^(B) the boundless riches of Christ,^(C)