1
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand and answered for himself:
2
I esteem myself blessed, King Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee concerning all the things of which I am accused of the Jews,
3
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.
4
My manner of life from my youth, which from the beginning was among my own nation at Jerusalem, is known of all the Jews,
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who knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most perfect sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
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And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers;
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unto which
promise our twelve tribes, constantly serving
God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
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Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead?
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I verily had 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 I shut up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the princes of the priests, and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against
them.