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The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you.
11
You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple.
12
My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city.
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These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.
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“But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.
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I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous.
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Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.
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“After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.
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My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting.
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But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me!
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Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of,
21
except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’”