Acts 26:1-11 So Agrippa affirms to Paul, "It is now permitted for you to proceed in speaking concerning other MSS: over; on behalf of; = for yourself." At that point Paul, while stretching out his hand, began to make a defense:

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ So Agrippa affirms to Paul, "It is now permitted for you to proceed in speaking concerning [other MSS: over; on behalf of; = for] yourself." At that point Paul, while stretching out [his] hand, began to make a defense: ² "King Agrippa, I have considered myself fortunate, happy and blessed at now being about to proceed in making a defense before you, today, concerning all [the] things of which I am being repeatedly charged (or: indicted) by [the] Jews, ³ "especially with you being an expert with personal experience and knowledge, being versed both [in] all the customs and also [the] questions (results of seeking [understanding], and, controversial issues) which relate to Jews (= Jewish culture and religion). For this reason, in my need I now beg you to listen and hear me with indulgence (or: being long before rushing into strong emotions; patiently). ⁴ "So then: all the Jews have seen and are thus acquainted with my kind of life, and its course, springing into being out of my youth with a beginning from within the midst of my nation (or: ethnic group), and more so within Jerusalem, ⁵ "previously having a personal acquaintance and intimate knowledge about me from that earlier period [so as] to continue testifying, giving witness one after another – if they would continue being willing – that in accord with the strictest sect (or: party) of this ritual and form of worship (or: religious discipline; system of external observances) of ours, I lived (or: I live) a Pharisee. ⁶ "And yet now I stand being repeatedly (or: constantly) judged (or: put on trial) based upon [the] expectation (or: hope) of the promise having been birthed into our fathers (= ancestors) by God – ⁷ "unto which [promise] our twelve-tribed [people], constantly rendering sacred service in earnest perseverance night and day, is continuously hoping and expecting to attain. Concerning this expectation I am now being indicted (or: charged) by the Jews, O king. ⁸ "Why does it continue being judged unbelievable (or: is it repeatedly decided [to be] incredible) among (or: by) you folks – since God periodically (or: habitually; constantly) raises dead people? ⁹ "Therefore within myself I, for one, used to think it to continue binding (or: had the opinion [that] it was then necessary) to commit (or: perform) many acts in opposition against the Name of Jesus, the Nazarene, ¹⁰ "which I did, even in Jerusalem. Furthermore, I myself also locked up many of the set-apart folks (holy ones; saints) in prisons, receiving the authority from the chief (or: ranking) priests, and more than this, I brought down a pebble (= cast my vote) against them – when one after another they were being taken back to be killed. ¹¹ "Then, while continuing in punishing them in vengeance – down through the [various] synagogues – I kept on trying to force (or: compel) [them] to blaspheme (speak abusively about [God]), besides keeping them in the midst of insane rage which completely surrounded them, and continued pressing forward to persecute [them] even into the cities outside [Palestine].