1
Agrippa said to Paul, "You may now speak to defend yourself." Then Paul raised his hand and began to speak.
2
He said, "King Agrippa, I am very happy to stand before you and will answer all the charges the Jewish people make against me.
3
You know so much about all the Jewish customs and the things the Jews argue about, so please listen to me patiently.
4
"All the Jewish people know about my whole life, how I lived from the beginning in my own country and later in Jerusalem.
5
They have known me for a long time. If they want to, they can tell you that I was a good Pharisee. And the Pharisees obey the laws of the Jewish religion more carefully than any other group.
6
Now I am on trial because I hope for the promise that God made to our ancestors.
7
This is the promise that the twelve tribes of our people hope to receive as they serve God day and night. My king, the Jews have accused me because I hope for this same promise!
8
Why do any of you people think it is impossible for God to raise people from the dead?
9
"I, too, thought I ought to do many things against Jesus from Nazareth.
10
And that is what I did in Jerusalem. The leading priests gave me the power to put many of God's people in jail, and when they were being killed, I agreed it was a good thing.
11
In every synagogue, I often punished them and tried to make them speak against Jesus. I was so angry against them I even went to other cities to find them and punish them.