10
When the governor motioned for Sha'ul to speak, he replied, "I know that you have been judge over this nation for a number of years, so I am glad to make my defense.
11
As you can verify for yourself, it has not been more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Yerushalayim;
12
and neither in the Temple nor in the synagogues nor anywhere else in the city did they find me either arguing with anyone or collecting a crowd.
13
Nor can they give any proof of the things of which they are accusing me.
14
"But this I do admit to you: I worship the God of our fathers in accordance with the Way (which they call a sect). I continue to believe everything that accords with the Torah and everything written in the Prophets.
15
And I continue to have a hope in God - which they too accept - that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.
16
Indeed, it is because of this that I make a point of always having a clear conscience in the sight of both God and man.
17
"After an absence of several years, I came to Yerushalayim to bring a charitable gift to my nation and to offer sacrifices.
18
It was in connection with the latter that they found me in the Temple. I had been ceremonially purified, I was not with a crowd, and I was not causing a disturbance.
19
But some Jews from the province of Asia - they ought to be here before you to make a charge if they have anything against me!
20
Or else, let these men themselves say what crime they found me guilty of when I stood in front of the Sanhedrin,
21
other than this one thing which I shouted out when I was standing among them: 'I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!'"