10. When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: ‘I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defence.
11. You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.
12. My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city.
13. And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.
14. However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets,
15. and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
16. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
17. ‘After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings.
18. I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance.