2 Bible Verses about Defense

And Paul looking steadily at the Sanhedrim, said, Men and brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience to this day. And the chief priest Ananias commanded those standing by to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, God is about to strike you, whitewashed wall; and do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law? read more.
And those standing by said, Do you revile God's chief priest? And Paul said, I knew not brothers that he was a chief priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people. And Paul knowing that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, cried in the Sanhedrim, Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees; for the hope and resurrection of the dead am I under trial.

And the procurator making a sign to him to speak, Paul answered, Knowing that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I shall defend myself cheerfully, you being able to know that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. And they did not find me in the temple disputing with any one, or making a disturbance of the multitude, neither in the synagogues nor in the city; read more.
neither can they prove the things of which they now accuse me. But this I confess to you, that in the way which they call a heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers; believing all things written in the law and the prophets, having a hope in God which they also hold, that there will be a resurrection both of the righteous and wicked. And in this also I endeavor always to have a conscience without offense towards God and man. But after many years I came to bring charities and offerings to my nation, in which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a multitude, nor with a tumult, who ought to be present and accuse me before you, if they have any thing against me. Or let them say whether they found any unrighteousness in me when I stood before the Sanhedrim, except in this one statement which I made, as I stood among them, that I am under trial by you to-day concerning the resurrection of the dead.

And Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense. I think myself happy, King Agrippa, in being allowed to make my defense before you to-day in respect to all things of which I am accused by the Jews, especially as you are acquainted with all the customs and questions of the Jews; wherefore, I beg you to hear me patiently. read more.
My mode of life from my childhood, the early part of it being with my nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews, who knew me from the first, if they would testify, that 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 our fathers, which our twelve tribes, serving God continually, day and night, hope to attain; of this hope, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why is it judged by you incredible that God raises the dead? I indeed thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus the Nazoraean, which I also did at Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were killed I gave my vote against them. And punishing them often in all the synagogues, I compelled them to blaspheme, and being exceedingly mad against them, I pursued them even to cities abroad. In which [persecutions] also, going to Damascus with authority, and a commission from the chief priests, at midday I saw in the way O king, a light from heaven shining around me and those going with me, exceeding the brightness of the sun; and when we had all fallen on 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 are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and witness both of what you have seen and [of visions ] in which I will appear to you, delivering you from the people, and the gentiles, to whom I send you to open their eyes, to turn them 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. Whence, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but preached first to those at Damascus and Jerusalem, and in all the country of Judea, and to the gentiles, that they should change their minds and turn to God, performing works worthy of a change of mind. On this account the Jews seized me in the temple and endeavored to kill me. Having obtained therefore help from God, I have continued to this day, testifying to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said should take place; that the Christ should suffer, and that he first from the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and the nations.

Then Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, if we are to-day examined concerning the good work done to the sick man, by what means he has been cured, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazoraean, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him has this man stood before you sound. read more.
This is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the head of a corner. And there is salvation in no other; for there is no other name given under heaven among men, by which we can be saved. And seeing the boldness of Peter and John, and supposing that they were illiterate and common men, they wondered, and perceived that they had been with Jesus;

saying, The prison found we shut with all safety, and the guards standing before the doors, but opening we found no one within. And when they heard these words, both the priest and the commander of the temple and the chief priests doubted concerning them, what this could mean. But some one came and told them, Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. read more.
Then the commander going away with the officers brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned; and having brought them they placed them before the Sanhedrim. And the chief priest asked them, saying, We charged you strictly not to teach in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and wish to bring this man's blood on us. And Peter answering, and the apostles, said, It is necessary to obey God rather than man.