When the governorhad noddedfor him to speak,Paulresponded:"Knowingthat for manyyearsyou have beena judgeto thisnation,I cheerfullymake my defense,
"Whenthey bringyou beforethe synagoguesand the rulersand the authorities,do not worryabout howorwhatyou are to speak in your defense,orwhatyou are to say;
But He saidto him, "Man,whoappointedMe a judgeorarbitratoroveryou?"
saying,"In a certaincitytherewas a judgewho did not fearGodand did not respectman.
But motioningto them with his handto be silent,he describedto them howthe Lordhad ledhim out of the prison.And he said,"Reportthese thingsto Jamesand the brethren."Thenhe leftand wentto anotherplace.
Paulstoodup, and motioningwith his handsaid,"Menof Israel,and you who fearGod,listen:
but ifthere are questionsaboutwordsand namesand your own law,look afterit yourselves;I amunwillingto be a judgeof thesematters."
Some of the crowdconcluded[it was] Alexander,since the Jewshad put him forward;and having motionedwith his hand,Alexanderwas intendingto make a defenseto the assembly.
When he had given him permission,Paul,standingon the stairs,motionedto the peoplewith his hand;and when there was a greathush,he spoketo them in the Hebrewdialect,saying,
[They were] alsoto providemountsto putPaulon and bring him safelyto Felixthe governor.
Agrippasaidto Paul,"You are permittedto speakfor yourself."ThenPaulstretchedout his handand [proceeded] to make his defense:
but sanctifyChristas Lordin your hearts,always[being] readyto make a defenseto everyonewho asksyou to give an accountfor the hopethat is in you, yetwith gentlenessand reverence;
"Ifone mansinsagainst another,Godwill mediatefor him; but ifa mansinsagainst the LORD,whocan intercedefor him?" But they would not listento the voiceof their father,for the LORDdesiredto putthem to death.
