For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship, ¹  I even found an altar with this inscription: ²  ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, ³  this I proclaim to you.

Paul replied, ¹  “I am standing before Caesar’s ²  judgment seat, ³  where I should be tried. ⁴  I have done nothing wrong ⁵  to the Jews, as you also know very well. ⁶ 

“Regarding all the things I have been accused of by the Jews, King Agrippa, ¹  I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today,

I punished ¹  them often in all the synagogues ²  and tried to force ³  them to blaspheme. Because I was so furiously enraged ⁴  at them, I went to persecute ⁵  them even in foreign cities.

Because I was at a loss ¹  how I could investigate these matters, ²  I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried ³  there on these charges. ⁴ 

But when the Jews objected, ¹  I was forced to appeal to Caesar ²  – not that I had some charge to bring ³  against my own people. ⁴ 

For David says about him, ‘I saw the Lord always in front of me, ¹  for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.

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 

So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.” ¹ 

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 

Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God ¹  that it will be just as I have been told.

because I am with you, and no one will assault ¹  you to harm ²  you, because I have many people in this city.”

When they arrived, he said to them, “You yourselves know how I lived ¹  the whole time I was with you, from the first day I set foot ²  in the province of Asia, ³ 

Since I could not see because of ¹  the brilliance ²  of that light, I came to Damascus led by the hand of ³  those who were with me.

As I stared ¹  I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, ²  and wild birds. ³ 

And that is what I did in Jerusalem: Not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons by the authority I received ¹  from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote ²  against them when they were sentenced to death. ³ 

But I do not consider my life ¹  worth anything ²  to myself, so that ³  I may finish my task ⁴  and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news ⁵  of God’s grace.

For I did not hold back from ¹  announcing ²  to you the whole purpose ³  of God.

I have desired ¹  no one’s silver or gold or clothing.

“Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense ¹  that I now ²  make to you.”