Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

26 Agrippa (to Paul): Go ahead. You may speak for yourself.

Paul (extending his hand): ² I am indeed fortunate to be standing before you, King Agrippa, to humbly defend myself against accusations from my Jewish opponents. ³ You are extraordinarily familiar with Jewish customs and controversies, so I beg your patience as I begin. ⁴ My way of life is well known to the whole Jewish community, how I have lived in the Jewish community abroad and in Jerusalem. ⁵ If they are willing to speak, they themselves will tell you something they have long known—that I was a member of the strictest sect of our religion and lived for many years as a Pharisee. ⁶ But now I am on trial here for this simple reason: I have hope. I have hope rooted in a promise God made to our ancestors. ⁷ All our twelve tribes have hope in this promise—they express their hope as they worship day and night. How strange it is, then, Your Excellency, that I am accused by the Jews of having hope! ⁸ Why would any of you think it is absurd to have hope that God raises the dead? ⁹ As you know, we’re talking specifically about Jesus of Nazareth. For a long time, I was convinced that I should work against that name. ¹⁰ I opposed it in Jerusalem. I received authorization from the chief priests to lock many of His followers in prison. When they were threatened with execution, I voted against them. ¹¹ I would find them in synagogues across Jerusalem and try to force them to blaspheme. My fury drove me to pursue them to foreign cities as well.