Paul Defends Himself before Agrippa

26 Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself:^(A)

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel;^(A)

² “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,

²¹ But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”^(A)

¹⁶ I told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met the accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the charge.^(A)

22 “Brothers^[a] and fathers, listen to the defense that I now make before you.”^(A)

⁵¹ “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?”^(A)