Thematic Bible: His defense

Then the commanding officer came near and took him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and inquired, who he was, and what he had done. But some in the croud bawled out one thing and some another: and as he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. And when he was upon the stairs, he was even borne by the soldiers, because of the violence of the people. read more.
For the multitude followed crying out, Away with him. And as Paul was going to be led into the castle, he said to the tribune, May I be allowed to speak a word to thee? And he said, Canst thou speak Greek? Art not thou that Egyptian, who before this madest a sedition, and didst lead out into the wilderness four thousand murtherers? But Paul said, I am indeed a Jew, a man of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beg thou wouldest permit me to speak to the people. And when he gave him leave, Paul standing on the stairs made a sign with the hand to the people: and there being a great silence made, He spake to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

Brethren, and Fathers, hear now my apology to you, ---(and when they heard that he spake to them in the Hebrew dialect, they the more readily kept silence, and he said,) ---I am indeed a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but educated in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, accurately instructed in the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, as ye all are this day. read more.
And I persecuted those of this persuasion even unto death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As the high priest is my witness, and all the elders: from whom I received letters to our brethren, and went to Damascus to bring those also, that were there, bound to Jerusalem, to be punished. And it came to pass that as I was on my journey and drew nigh to Damascus, about mid-day, on a sudden a great light from heaven shone round about me: and I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And He said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me saw the light indeed, and were affrighted; but they did not hear the voice of Him that spake to me. And I said, Lord, what shall I do? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go on to Damascus, and there it shall be told thee concerning all things which are appointed for thee to do. And as I could not see by reason of the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those that were with me, I came to Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout observer of the law, who had a good character from all the Jews that dwelt there, came to me, and stood by me, and said, Brother Saul, look up: and I immediately looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our Fathers hath before appointed thee to know his will, and to see the just One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men, of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why shouldst thou delay? Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling upon the name of the Lord. And when I was returned to Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, I was in a trance. And I saw Him saying unto me, Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem; for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and scourged in the synagogues them that believed on Thee. And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also stood by and consented to his death, and kept the clothes of them that slew him. But he said unto me, Go away; for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.---