10 When the governor(A) motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days(B) ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple,(C) or stirring up a crowd(D) in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.(E) 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors(F) as a follower of the Way,(G) which they call a sect.(H) I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,(I) 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection(J) of both the righteous and the wicked.(K) 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear(L) before God and man.

17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor(M) and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean(N) when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.(O) 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia,(P) who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me.(Q) 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”(R)

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10 The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. 11 You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. 12 My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. 13 These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.

14 “But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. 15 I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

17 “After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. 18 My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. 19 But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me! 20 Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council[a] found me guilty of, 21 except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’”

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Footnotes

  1. 24:20 Greek Sanhedrin.