7. But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force,
8. commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you will be able to discern all these things we are accusing him of.”
9. The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so.
10. When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me.
11. You are able to determine that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.
12. They didn’t find me disputing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple complex or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city.
13. Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me.
14. But I confess this to you: I worship my fathers’ God according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
15. And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.
16. I always do my best to have a clear conscience toward God and men.
17. After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation,
18. and while I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.