WPNT(i)
22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I myself would also like to hear the man”. So he said, “Tomorrow you shall hear him”.
23 So the next day, when Agrippa and Bernice had come with great pomp and entered the auditorium, with the commanding officers and the more prominent men of the city, at Festus’ command Paul was brought in.
24 And Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all you men who are here with us: consider this man, about whom the whole Jewish community petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, vociferating that it was not fitting for him to live any longer.
25 But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, besides he himself having appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
26 But I have nothing certain to write to my lord concerning him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the examination I may have something to write.
27 Because it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner and not to specify the charges against him.”
26 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself”. So Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
2 “I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, in that I am to make my defense before you this day concerning the things of which I am accused by the Jews,
3 especially because you are expert in all the Jewish customs and issues; therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
4 Really, the Jews all know my way of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation in Jerusalem,
5 since they have known me for a long time, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived as a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand here being judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,
7 to which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. It is because of this hope that I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa.
8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9 “However, I myself thought that I had to perpetrate many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Natsorean;
10 I actually did this in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.
11 Yes, I punished them often in every synagogue, trying to force them to blaspheme; I was so excessively enraged against them that I persecuted them even to foreign cities.