17. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you
18. to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19. “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
20. but I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.
21. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and were trying to kill me.
22. I have experienced help from God to this day, and so I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what the prophets and Moses said was going to happen:
23. that the Christ was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
24. As Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed loudly, “You have lost your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!”
25. But Paul replied, “I have not lost my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking true and rational words.