John the Baptist’s Birth Foretold

^5 (A)In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the ^(B)division of ^[a]Abijah; and he had a wife ^[b]from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ They were both ^(C)righteous in the sight of God, walking ^(D)blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

⁴ although ^(A)I myself could boast as having confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: ^5 (B)circumcised the eighth day, of the ^(C)nation of Israel, of the ^(D)tribe of Benjamin, a ^(E)Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, ^(F)a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, ^(G)a persecutor of the church; as to the ^(H)righteousness which is in the Law, found ^(I)blameless.

Paul before the Council

23 Now looking intently at ^(A)the ^[a]Council, Paul said, “^[b](B)Brothers, ^(C)I have ^[c]lived my life with an entirely good conscience before God up to this day.”