1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
2 When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then Paul declared,
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
4 I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison,
5 as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.