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Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself:
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"I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews,
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especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
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My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.
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They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
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And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.
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To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.
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Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?
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Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
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This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.
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And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
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"While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
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at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me.
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And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'