Paul's Defense before Agrippa
1 Agrippa said to Paul, "It is permitted for you to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
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"I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that today I am going to make a defense before you about everything I am accused of by the Jews,
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especially since you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
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"All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem.
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They had previously known me for quite some time, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.
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And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,
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[the promise] our 12 tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve Him night and day. Because of this hope I am being accused by the Jews, O king!
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Why is it considered incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
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In fact, I myself supposed it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene.
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This I actually did in Jerusalem, and I locked up many of the saints in prison, since I had received authority for that from the chief priests. When they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.