[26:1] So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense:
[26:2] “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,
[26:3] especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.
[26:4] “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews.
[26:5] They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.
[26:6] And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,
[26:7] to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!
[26:8] Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
[26:9] “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
[26:10] And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.
[26:11] And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.