1. Agrippa said to Paul, “You may now speak to defend yourself.” Paul raised his hand to get their attention and began to speak.
2. He said, “King Agrippa, I feel fortunate that I can stand here before you today and answer all the charges these Jews have made against me.
3. I am very happy to talk to you, because you know so much about all the Jewish customs and the things the Jews argue about. Please listen to me patiently.
4. “All the Jews know about my whole life. They know the way I lived from the beginning in my own country and later in Jerusalem.
5. These Jews have known me for a long time. If they want to, they can tell you that I was a good Pharisee. And the Pharisees obey the laws of the Jewish religion more carefully than any other group.
6. Now I am on trial because I hope for the promise that God made to our fathers.
7. This is the promise that all the twelve tribes of our people hope to receive. For this hope the Jews serve God day and night. My king, the Jews have accused me because I hope for this same promise.
8. Why do you people think it is impossible for God to raise people from death?
9. “I used to think that I should do everything I could against Jesus from Nazareth.
10. And that’s what I did, beginning in Jerusalem. The leading priests gave me the authority to put many of God’s people in jail. And when they were being killed, I agreed that it was a good thing.
11. I visited all the synagogues and punished them, trying to make them curse Jesus. My anger against these people was so strong that I went to other cities to find them and punish them.
12. “One time the leading priests gave me permission and the authority to go to the city of Damascus.
13. On the way there, at noon, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun. It shined all around me and those traveling with me.