2 Bible Verses about Defense

And Paul, looking earnestly upon the Sanhedrin, said: Brethren, I have lived in all good conscience toward God to this day. And the chief priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by to smite him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him: God will smite you, you whitened wall! for do you sit to judge me according to the law, and yet violate the law by commanding me to be smitten? read more.
And those who stood by said: Do you revile God's chief priest? And Paul replied: I did not know, brethren, that he was the chief priest: for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people. But when Paul perceived that one part belonged to the Sadducees, and the other to the Pharisees, he cried out, in the Sanhedrin: Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; for the hope of the resurrection of the dead am I judged.

Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: Knowing that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully offer a defense for my self: for you can understand that there are not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And they found me neither disputing with any one in the temple, nor exciting the multitude in the synagogue, or in the city: read more.
nor are they able to prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that after the way which they call sect, so do I worship the God of my fathers; believing all things that are written in the law and in the prophets; having hope in God, which they themselves also admit, that I there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust. And I do exercise myself in this, always to have a conscience void of offense toward God and man. But, after many years, I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation, and offerings. While engaged in these things, certain Jews from Asia found me fulfilling my vow of abstinence in the temple, not with a multitude, nor with tumult. These ought to be here before you, and bring their charge, if they have any, against me. Or let these persons here say, what offensive conduct they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, except in this one expression, which I uttered while standing among them: With respect to the resurrection I of the dead, I am judged by you this day.

Then Agrippa said to Paul: You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and answered for himself. I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall this day make my defense before you, concerning all things of which I am accused by the Jews; especially, since you are acquainted with all the customs and questions that are among the Jews. For this reason, I beseech you to hear me patiently. read more.
My course of life from my youth, which, from the beginning, was among my own nation in Jerusalem, know all the Jews; who, knowing me from the first, could testify, if they would, that, according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; to which promise our twelve tribes, zealously serving night and day, hope to come: on account of which hope, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. "What? Is it thought a thing incredible among you, that God raises the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus the Nazarene. And this I did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests: and when they were put to death, I gave my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to speak impiously; and, being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. While I was engaged in these things, and was going to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, while I was on the road, I saw, King, a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying, in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? He replied, I am Jesus, whom you persecute. But arise, and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness of the things which you have seen, and of those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I send you, in order to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins, and an inheritance among the sanctified, by faith in me. Wherefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; but announced first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance. For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple, and endeavored to kill me. Having, therefore, obtained help from God, I have stood till this day, testifying both to small and to great, saying nothing else than the things which the prophets and Moses did say should come to pass: that Christ should suffer, and that he first, by his resurrection from the dead, should show light to the people, and to the Gentiles.

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we are this day examined with respect unto the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he has been saved, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him does this man stand before you in health. read more.
This is the stone that was rejected with contempt by you builders, which has become the head of the corner. And there is salvation in no other; nor, indeed, is there another name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved. Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and plain men, they were astonished; and they also recognized them, that they had been with Jesus;

saying: "We found the prison closed with all safety, and the guards standing before the doors; but when we had opened, we found no one within. When the priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were in doubt about them, what this could mean. And some one came and reported to them: Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. read more.
Then went the captain with the attendants, and brought them without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they made them stand before the Sanhedrin; and the chief priest asked them, saying: Did we not strictly charge you not to teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us. But Peter and the apostles answered and said: "We must obey God rather than men.