“ Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said,“ listen to me as I offer my defense.”

“诸位父兄请听，我现在对你们分诉。”

“诸位父老弟兄，请听我现在对你们的申辩。”

“诸位父老弟兄，请听我现在对你们的申辩。”

“各位父老兄弟，请听我解释！”

“各位父老弟兄，请听听我现在对你们的申辩。”

“各位父老兄弟，现在请听我的申辩。”

「諸位父兄請聽，我現在對你們分訴。」

「諸位父老弟兄，請聽我現在對你們的申辯。」

「諸位父老弟兄，請聽我現在對你們的申辯。」

「各位父老兄弟，請聽我解釋！」

“各位父老弟兄，請聽聽我現在對你們的申辯。”

『同人、弟兄、父老們，請聽我如今對你們所分訴的。』

「各位父老兄弟，現在請聽我的申辯。」

曰、諸父兄弟、我今自訴於爾、請聽之、

曰、諸父兄弟、我今欲自訴、請聽我言、

曰、諸父兄弟、我今欲於爾前申訴、請聽我言、

『父老兄弟！聽予向爾分辨！』

“ Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”

“ Brothers and fathers,” Paul began,“ listen to me now. I want to give you reasons for my actions.”

“ Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

“ Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”

“ Brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”

“ Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.”

Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.

“ Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence[ which I make] now unto you.

“ Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense that I now make to you.”

“ Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.”

This was Stephen’s reply:“ Brothers and fathers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran.

Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted,“ Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”

Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them,“ Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors.

The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak.

Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began:“ Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you,

The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said,“ I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you.

Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.

Paul denied the charges.“ I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said.

I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves.

“ Brothers— you sons of Abraham, and also you God fearing Gentiles— this message of salvation has been sent to us!

This is my answer to those who question my authority.

The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them.

Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me.

So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.

They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.

Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.

Then Agrippa said to Paul,“ You may speak in your defense.” So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense:“ I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders,

“ And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say,

Suddenly, Festus shouted,“ Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”