LEB(i)
22 So Agrippa said to Festus, "I want to hear the man myself also." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him."
23 So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with great pageantry and entered into the audience hall, along with military tribunes and the most prominent men of the city. And when* Festus gave the order, Paul was brought in.
24 And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all who are present with us, you see this man about whom the whole population of the Jews appealed to me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he must not live any longer.
25 But I understood that he had done nothing deserving death himself, and when* this man appealed to His Majesty the Emperor, I decided to send him.*
26 I do not have anything definite to write to my* lord about ⌊him⌋.* Therefore I have brought him before you all*—and especially before you, King Agrippa—so that after* this preliminary hearing has taken place, I may have something to write.
27 For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner and not to indicate the charges against him."
26 1 So Agrippa said to Paul, "It is permitted for you to speak for yourself." Then Paul extended his* hand and* began to defend himself:*
2 "Concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that before you I am about to defend myself today,
3 because* you are especially acquainted with both all the customs and controversial questions with respect to the Jews. Therefore I beg you* to listen to me with patience.
4 "Now all the Jews know my manner of life from my youth, that had taken place from the beginning among my own people* and in Jerusalem,
5 having known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that in accordance with the strictest party of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand here on trial on the basis of hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,
7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve him* night and day. Concerning this hope I am being accused by the Jews, O king!
8 Why is it thought incredible by you people* that God raises the dead?
9 Indeed, I myself thought it was necessary to do many things opposed to the name of Jesus the Nazarene,
10 which I also did in Jerusalem, and not only did I lock up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when* they were being executed, I cast my vote* against them.*
11 And throughout all the synagogues I punished them often and* tried to force* them* to blaspheme, and because I* was enraged at them beyond measure, I was pursuing them* even as far as to foreign cities.