3
Especially because I knowthee to beexpertinallcustomsandquestions which are among the Jews:wherefore I beseechthee to hearmepatiently.
4
Mymanneroflifefrom my youth,whichwasat the firstamongmine own nationatJerusalem,knowall the Jews;
5
Which knewme from the beginning,if they wouldtestify, thatafter the most straitestsect of ourreligion I lived a Pharisee.
6
Andnow I stand and am judgedfor the hope of the promisemadeofGodunto our fathers:
7
Untowhich promise our twelve tribes,instantly*serving God dayandnight,hope to come. Forwhich hope's sake,kingAgrippa, I am accusedof the Jews.
8
Why should it be thought a thingincrediblewithyou,thatGod should raise the dead?
9
Iverily*thought with myself, that I ought to do many thingscontraryto the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10
Which thingIalsodidinJerusalem:andmany of the saintsdidI shut up in prison, having receivedauthorityfrom the chief priests;and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.
11
And I punishedthemoftineverysynagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; andbeingexceedingly mad againstthem, I persecuted them evenunto*strangecities.
12
Whereuponas I wenttoDamascuswithauthorityandcommissionfrom the chief priests,
13
At midday*, O king, I sawin the way a light from heaven,above the brightness of the sun, shining round aboutmeand them which journeyedwithme.