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Then Agrippa said unto Paul, "Thou art permitted to speak for thyself." Then Paul stretched forth his hand and answered for himself:
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"I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee concerning all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews,
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especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
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"My manner of life from my youth, which was from the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, is known to all the Jews.
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They knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee.
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And now I stand and am judged because of the hope of the promise made by God unto our fathers,
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unto which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God day and night, hope to come. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.
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Why should it be thought an incredible thing by you that God should raise the dead?
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"I myself verily thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth,
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which things I also did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.