The Acts

¹And Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defence: ²I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defence before thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews: ³especially because thou art expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. ⁴My manner of life then from my youth up, which was from the beginning among mine own nation, and at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; ⁵having knowledge of me from the first, if they be willing to testify, how that after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. ⁶And now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers; ⁷unto which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. And concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O king!