2 Bible Verses about Defense

And Paul looking earnestly upon the council, said: Brethren! I have ordered my life in all good conscience before God to this day. And the highpriest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, God will smite thee, thou whited wall! Art thou then sitting to judge me according to the law, and dost thou command me to be smitten contrary to the law? read more.
And they that stood by said, Dost thou revile Gods highpriest? Then said Paul, I knew not, brethren, that he was highpriest; for it is written, "Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people." But Paul, perceiving one part to be Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried aloud in the council, Brethren! I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; for the hope of the resurrection of the dead I am now tried.

Then Paul, after the governor had beckoned to him to speak, answered, Since I know that thou hast been for many years a judge for this nation, I answer for myself cheerfully; for it is in thy power to ascertain that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship. And neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any one, or stirring up a tumult of the people, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city; read more.
nor can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I acknowledge to thee, that according to the way [of belief] which they call a sect, so do I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and by the Prophets; having a hope in God, which they themselves also entertain, that there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and the unrighteous. On this ground do I also myself strive to have always a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men. And after some years I came to bring alms to my nation, and to make offerings; in doing which they found me purified in the temple, not with a crowd nor with tumult; but certain Jews from Asia [caused it], who ought to be here before thee, and make their charge, if they had aught against me. Or, let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the council, except in relation to this one expression, which I uttered aloud while standing among them: Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am tried before you this day.

And Agrippa said to Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand and made his defence: I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defence this day before thee concerning all things of which I am accused by the Jews; especially as thou art acquainted with all the customs and questions among the Jews. Wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. read more.
My manner of life, then, from my youth, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem, all Jews know: and they know, if they are willing to testify, that from the first, according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand on trial for the hope of the promise made by God to the fathers, which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God day and night, hope to obtain; concerning which hope, O king, I am accused by Jews. Why is it judged incredible with you if God raiseth the dead? I indeed thought with myself that I ought to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. Which I also did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints did I myself shut up in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I pursued them even to foreign cities. And as I was going to Damascus on this business, with authority and a commission from the chief priests, at midday, on the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who were journeying with me. And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. But arise and stand upon thy feet; for I have appeared to thee for this purpose, to prepare thee as a minister and a witness both of the things which thou sawest, and of those on account of which I will appear to thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the gentiles, to whom I send thee, to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among the sanctified, by faith in me. Wherefore, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; but first to those in Damascus, and Jerusalem, and to all the country of Judaea, and then to the gentiles, I proclaimed that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. For these causes the Jews seized me in the temple, and attempted to kill me. Having, however, obtained help from God, I continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying nothing except those things which the Prophets and Moses said were to come to pass; that the Christ should suffer, and that, as first of those raised from the dead, he was to proclaim light both 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 in respect to a good deed done to a cripple, by what means he hath been restored, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead,by him doth this man stand here before you sound. read more.
This is the stone which was set at nought by you the builders, which is become a cornerstone. And there is salvation in no other; for there is not another name under heaven, that hath been given among men, by which we must be saved. And when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and common men, they wondered; and they recognized them as having been with Jesus.

saying, The prison we found shut in all security and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we opened them, we found no one within. And when the priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were at a loss concerning them, to what this would come. But one came and brought them word, Lo! the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. read more.
Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence, that they might not be stoned; for they feared the people. And having brought them, they set them before the council. And the highpriest questioned them, saying, We strictly commanded you not to teach in this name, and lo! ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and mean to bring this mans blood upon us. But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.