After three days he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, ‘Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially towards you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom but by God’s grace.
Then they said to him, ‘We haven’t received any letters about you from Judea. None of the brothers has come and reported or spoken anything evil about you.
My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.’
But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets.