Acts 26:1-10

1 Agrippa spoke directly to Paul: "Go ahead - tell us about yourself."
2 "I can't think of anyone, King Agrippa, before whom I'd rather be answering all these Jewish accusations than you,
3 knowing how well you are acquainted with Jewish ways and all our family quarrels.
4 "From the time of my youth, my life has been lived among my own people in Jerusalem.
5 Practically every Jew in town who watched me grow up - and if they were willing to stick their necks out they'd tell you in person - knows that I lived as a strict Pharisee, the most demanding branch of our religion.
6 It's because I believed it and took it seriously,
7 committed myself heart and soul to what God promised my ancestors - the identical hope, mind you, that the twelve tribes have lived for night and day all these centuries - it's because I have held on to this tested and tried hope that I'm being called on the carpet by the Jews. They should be the ones standing trial here, not me!
8 For the life of me, I can't see why it's a criminal offense to believe that God raises the dead.
9 "I admit that I didn't always hold to this position. For a time I thought it was my duty to oppose this Jesus of Nazareth with all my might.
10 Backed with the full authority of the high priests, I threw these believers - I had no idea they were God's people! - into the Jerusalem jail right and left, and whenever it came to a vote, I voted for their execution.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.