AUV(i)
2 "King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am able to defend myself before you concerning all the charges being brought against me by the Jews,
3 especially since you are an expert on all the customs and issues discussed among the Jews. So, for this reason I request that you hear [my response to them] patiently.
4 All the Jews know how I lived during my youth and my early days among [the people of] my nation, and [especially here] in Jerusalem.
5 They know of my early background; if they were willing to, they could testify that I lived as a [faithful] Pharisee, [which is] the strictest sect of our religion.
6 And now I am standing [here], being judged because [I believe that] God will fulfill the hope He promised to our forefathers.
7 This is the promise our twelve tribes [i.e., family groups], who earnestly serve God night and day, hope to see fulfilled. It is because [I advocate] this hope, O King, that I am being charged [with wrongdoing] by the Jews.
8 So, why should you [Jews] consider it incredible for God to raise the dead?
9 I truly thought within myself [that it was right] to do many things which were opposed to the name of Jesus from Nazareth.
10 So, I was doing this in Jerusalem, having received [my] authority from the leading priests. I both imprisoned many of the saints [i.e., God's holy people] and [even] voiced my approval when they were put to death [See 8:1].
11 I often persecuted them in the synagogues, [even] trying to get them to blaspheme [i.e., speak against God]. I had extreme anger toward them and [even] traveled to foreign cities [in my effort] to persecute them.