TSK · Acts 22:1

Therefore be resolved not to rehearse ahead of time how to make your defense.

Brothers, descendants of Abraham’s family, and those Gentiles among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us.

Paul looked directly at the council and said,“Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God to this day.”

Paul’s Defense Before Felix When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied,“Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense.

I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met his accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation.

As Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed loudly,“You have lost your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!”

They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them,

For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, what punishment! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God’s grace together with me.

At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me– may they not be held accountable for it.