Study Desk

Peter now realized what had happened, and he said, "I am certain that the Lord sent his angel to rescue me from Herod and from everything the Jewish leaders planned to do to me."

Then, when John's work was almost done, he said, "Who do you people think I am? Do you think I am the Promised One? He will come later, and I am not good enough to untie his sandals."

Finally, they turned against him and insulted him. So he shook the dust from his clothes and told them, "Whatever happens to you will be your own fault! I am not to blame. From now on I am going to preach to the Gentiles."

I am with you, and you won't be harmed. Many people in this city belong to me."

In every city I visit, I am told by the Holy Spirit that I will be put in jail and will be in trouble in Jerusalem.

I tell you today that I am no longer responsible for any of you!

I know that after I am gone, others will come like fierce wolves to attack you.

But Paul answered, "Why are you crying and breaking my heart? I am not only willing to be put in jail for the Lord Jesus. I am even willing to die for him in Jerusalem!"

"No!" Paul replied. "I am a Jew from Tarsus, an important city in Cilicia. Please let me speak to the crowd."

I am a Jew, born and raised in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia. I was a student of Gamaliel and was taught to follow every single law of our ancestors. In fact, I was just as eager to obey God as any of you are today.

"Who are you?" I answered. The Lord replied, "I am Jesus from Nazareth! I am the one you are so cruel to."

When Paul saw that some of the council members were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he shouted, "My friends, I am a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee. I am on trial simply because I believe that the dead will be raised to life."

The governor motioned for Paul to speak, and he began: I know that you have judged the people of our nation for many years, and I am glad to defend myself in your court.

I am just as sure as these people are that God will raise from death everyone who is good or evil.

And because I am sure, I try my best to have a clear conscience in whatever I do for God or for people.

The only charge they can bring against me is what I shouted out in court, when I said, "I am on trial today because I believe that the dead will be raised to life!"

But Festus told them, "Paul will be kept in Caesarea, and I am soon going there myself.

Paul replied, "I am on trial in the Emperor's court, and that's where I should be tried. You know very well that I have not done anything to harm the Jewish nation.

If I had done something deserving death, I would not ask to escape the death penalty. But I am not guilty of any of these crimes, and no one has the right to hand me over to these people. I now ask to be tried by the Emperor himself."

King Agrippa, I am glad for this chance to defend myself before you today on all these charges that my own people have brought against me.