Paul answered, ¹  “I am a Jew ²  from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. ³  Please ⁴  allow me to speak to the people.”

Those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand ¹  the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors ¹  has already chosen ²  you to know his will, to see ³  the Righteous One, ⁴  and to hear a command ⁵  from his mouth,

because you will be his witness ¹  to all people ²  of what you have seen and heard.

And now what are you waiting for? ¹  Get up, ²  be baptized, and have your sins washed away, ³  calling on his name.’ ⁴ 

The crowd ¹  was listening to him until he said this. ²  Then ³  they raised their voices and shouted, ⁴  “Away with this man ⁵  from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live!” ⁶ 

Those standing near him ¹  said, “Do you dare insult ²  God’s high priest?”

But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush, ¹  he came and entered ²  the barracks ³  and told Paul.

Then the commanding officer ¹  sent the young man away, directing him, ²  “Tell no one that you have reported ³  these things to me.”

He wrote ¹  a letter that went like this: ² 

I found he ¹  was accused with reference to controversial questions ²  about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment. ³ 

When Paul ¹  had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, ²  saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time ³  of peace through your rule, ⁴  and reforms ⁵  are being made in this nation ⁶  through your foresight. ⁷ 

But so that I may not delay ¹  you any further, I beg ²  you to hear us briefly ³  with your customary graciousness. ⁴ 

They did not find me arguing ¹  with anyone or stirring up a crowd ²  in the temple courts ³  or in the synagogues ⁴  or throughout the city, ⁵ 

This is the reason ¹  I do my best to always ²  have a clear ³  conscience toward God and toward people. ⁴ 

If then I am in the wrong ¹  and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying, ²  but if not one of their charges against me is true, ³  no one can hand me over to them. ⁴  I appeal to Caesar!” ⁵ 

But I found that he had done nothing that deserved death, ¹  and when he appealed ²  to His Majesty the Emperor, ³  I decided to send him. ⁴ 

And now I stand here on trial ¹  because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, ² 

a promise ¹  that our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve God ²  night and day. Concerning this hope the Jews are accusing me, ³  Your Majesty! ⁴ 

But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance ¹  as a servant and witness ²  to the things ³  you have seen ⁴  and to the things in which I will appear to you.