22 ¹ “Brothers and fathers,^(A) listen now to my defense.”

² To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers,^(A) listen to me! The God of glory^(B) appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran.^(C)

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.^(A)

¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer^(A) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope^(B) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

¹⁷ The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition,^(A) not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.^(B)

⁷ It is right^(A) for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart^(B) and, whether I am in chains^(C) or defending^(D) and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.

¹⁹ Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God^(A) as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends,^(B) is for your strengthening.^(C)

¹¹ See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern,^(A) what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

³ This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me.

¹⁵ They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)