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1Then Wild Horse (Agrippa) said to Small Man (Paul) , “You are permitted to speak and tell your side of this story.”
So Small Man (Paul) stretched out his hand and began to tell his side of the story.
2“Chief Wild Horse (Agrippa) ,” he began, “Since my accusers are all Tribal Members, like yourself , it seems good to me that I can defend myself before you today,
3mainly because you know so well how we disagree about many of our tribal traditions. So I humbly ask that you listen to me with patience.
4“All of our Tribal People know the manner I have walked, even from the days of my youth, when I lived among our people in Village of Peace (Jerusalem) .
5They have known from the first, if they will admit to it, that I walked in the way of a Separated One (Pharisee) , the most demanding of all our spiritual paths.
6“The reason I stand here on trial before you today is my hope in the promise made by the Great Spirit to our ancestors.
7It is a promise our twelve tribes solemnly strive for as they serve him night and day with prayers and ceremonies. It is for this hope, O honored chief, that I stand here accused by our tribal leaders!
8Why would any of our people find it impossible to believe that the Great Spirit raises the dead?
9“At first , I myself was convinced that I should do as much harm as I could to destroy the reputation of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) of Seed Planter Village (Nazareth) .
10In Village of Peace (Jerusalem) , I obtained permission from the head holy men to capture and put many of Creator’s holy ones into prison. Not only that, but I voted against them when they were being killed.
11In all our gathering houses I violently punished them, trying to force them to speak against Creator Sets Free (Jesus) . Like a threatening storm I took out my anger on them, even pursuing them to faraway places.
12“On one of these journeys I was on my way to Silent Weaver (Damascus) with the full approval and authority of the head holy men.
13Then at midday, O honored chief, I saw a light from the spirit-world above shining down on me and my fellow travelers.
14We all had fallen to the ground when I heard a voice speaking to me in our tribal language.
“‘Man Who Questions (Saul) , Man Who Questions (Saul) ,’ the voice called my name twice, and asked, ‘why are you pursuing and mistreating me? It is a hard and painful thing to fight against me, like a horse pushing back against the spurs.’
15“‘Honored One,’ I said back to the voice, ‘who are you?’
“‘I am Creator Sets Free (Jesus) ,’ the voice answered, ‘the one you are pursuing and mistreating.
16Now rise up! Stand to your feet! I have chosen you to be my servant, a witness who will tell others what you have seen with your own eyes and what I will reveal to you.
17“‘I will rescue you from your own people and from the Outside Nations, the ones to whom I am sending you.
18My message will open their eyes so they may turn from the path of darkness to walk the road of life, and turn away from the power of the Accuser (Satan) to the power of the Great Spirit, so they may be released and set free from their bad hearts and wrongdoings. In this way, they will find their place among all who are made holy by trusting in me.’
19“So then, Chief Wild Horse (Agrippa) , I was true to this sacred vision.
20First I told those in Silent Weaver (Damascus) . Then I told the people in Village of Peace (Jerusalem) and all in the territory of the Land of Promise (Judea) , and to the Outside Nations. I told them all that they should change their thinking, return to Creator’s ways, and walk in a manner worthy of this change of heart.
21“This was the reason that these Tribal Members took hold of me at the sacred lodge and tried to kill me.
22Up to this day, with the help of the Great Spirit, I have told the truth to both small and great. I have said only what was foretold by the ancient prophets and by Drawn from the Water (Moses) .
23I said that the Chosen One must suffer, and then, being the first to rise from the dead, he would be the light bearer, shining both on our people and on the Outside Nations.”
24Right then, as Small Man (Paul) was still speaking, Festival (Festus) interrupted. “Small Man (Paul) ,” he shouted, “you are sick in the head! Your much learning is twisting your mind!”
25“O most noble Festival (Festus) ,” Small Man (Paul) replied, “what I am saying is clear and understandable.
26Chief Wild Horse (Agrippa) understands these things, so I am speaking boldly to him and holding nothing back. I am convinced that he is aware of all that I speak of, for none of these things happened in a cave.”
27“Chief Wild Horse (Agrippa) ,” he boldly asked, “do you believe in what the prophets have spoken? I know that you do!”
28“Do you think that in such a short time I could be talked into becoming a follower of the Chosen One?” he replied.
29“I pray to the Great Spirit that, whether in a short time or long, all who hear me today would become as I am—except for these chains.”
30After hearing these words Chief Wild Horse (Agrippa) stood to his feet. The governor and Bringer of Victory (Bernice) and all the others stood up with him.
31They left the room, and after talking together they said, “This man has done nothing that deserves prison or death.”
32Then Chief Wild Horse (Agrippa) said to the governor, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the Ruler of the People of Iron (Caesar) .”