“ Brothers and fathers,” Paul began,“ listen to me now. I want to give you reasons for my actions.”

“诸位父兄请听，我现在对你们分诉。”

“诸位父老弟兄，请听我现在对你们的申辩。”

“诸位父老弟兄，请听我现在对你们的申辩。”

“各位父老兄弟，请听我解释！”

“各位父老弟兄，请听听我现在对你们的申辩。”

“各位父老兄弟，现在请听我的申辩。”

「諸位父兄請聽，我現在對你們分訴。」

「諸位父老弟兄，請聽我現在對你們的申辯。」

「諸位父老弟兄，請聽我現在對你們的申辯。」

「各位父老兄弟，請聽我解釋！」

“各位父老弟兄，請聽聽我現在對你們的申辯。”

『同人、弟兄、父老們，請聽我如今對你們所分訴的。』

「各位父老兄弟，現在請聽我的申辯。」

曰、諸父兄弟、我今自訴於爾、請聽之、

曰、諸父兄弟、我今欲自訴、請聽我言、

曰、諸父兄弟、我今欲於爾前申訴、請聽我言、

『父老兄弟！聽予向爾分辨！』

“ Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”

“ Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

“ Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said,“ listen to me as I offer my defense.”

“ Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”

“ Brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”

“ Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.”

Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.

“ Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence[ which I make] now unto you.

“ Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense that I now make to you.”

“ Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.”

“ Brothers and fathers, listen to me!” Stephen replied.“ The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham. At that time Abraham was still in Mesopotamia. He had not yet begun living in Harran.

Paul knew that some of them were Sadducees and the others were Pharisees. So he called out to the members of the Sanhedrin.“ My brothers,” he said,“ I am a Pharisee. I come from a family of Pharisees. I believe that people will rise from the dead. That’s why I am on trial.”

Three days later Paul called a meeting of the local Jewish leaders. When they came, Paul spoke to them. He said,“ My brothers, I have done nothing against our people. I have also done nothing against what our people of long ago practiced. But I was arrested in Jerusalem. I was handed over to the Romans.

The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front. They tried to tell him what to say. But he motioned for them to be quiet. He was about to give the people reasons for his actions.

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin.“ My brothers,” he said,“ I have always done my duty to God. To this day I feel that I have done nothing wrong.”

But make sure that in your hearts you honor Christ as Lord. Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you about the hope you have. Be ready to give the reason for it. But do it gently and with respect.

But make up your mind not to worry ahead of time about how to stand up for yourselves.

The governor motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said,“ I know that you have been a judge over this nation for quite a few years. So I am glad to explain my actions to you.

All this time, have you been thinking that I’ve been speaking up for myself? No, I’ve been speaking with God as my witness. I’ve been speaking like a believer in Christ. Dear friends, everything I do is to help you become stronger.

Then Paul spoke up for himself. He said,“ I’ve done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple. I’ve done nothing wrong against Caesar.”

“ I told them that this is not the way Romans do things. We don’t judge people before they have faced those bringing charges against them. They must have a chance to argue against the charges for themselves.

“ Listen, fellow children of Abraham! Listen, you Gentiles who worship God! This message of salvation has been sent to us.

That is what I say to stand up for myself when people judge me.

The first time I was put on trial, no one came to help me. Everyone deserted me. I hope they will be forgiven for it.

But the others preach about Christ only to get ahead. They preach Christ for the wrong reasons. They think they can stir up trouble for me while I am being held by chains.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you. I love you with all my heart. I may be held by chains, or I may be standing up for the truth of the good news. Either way, all of you share in God’s grace together with me.

They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts. The way their minds judge them proves this fact. Sometimes their thoughts find them guilty. At other times their thoughts find them not guilty.

Look at what that godly sadness has produced in you. You are working hard to clear yourselves. You are angry and alarmed. You are longing to see me. You are concerned. You are ready to make sure that the right thing is done. In every way you have proved that you are not guilty in that matter.

Agrippa said to Paul,“ You may now present your case.” So Paul motioned with his hand. Then he began to present his case.“ King Agrippa,” he said,“ I am happy to be able to stand here today. I will answer all the charges brought against me by the Jews.

“ You will be brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities. But do not worry about how to stand up for yourselves or what to say.

While Paul was still presenting his case, Festus interrupted.“ You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted.“ Your great learning is driving you crazy!”