40 After he had given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great hush, he addressed them in Aramaic:A,f 22 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” 2 When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic,A they became even quieter.g 3 Heh continued, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamalieli according to the strictness of our ancestral law. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.j