¹⁴“It is true that I worship the God of our people. I am a follower of the Way of Jesus. Those bringing charges against me call it a cult. I believe everything that agrees with the Law. I believe everything written in the Prophets. ¹⁵I have the same hope in God that these men have. I believe that both the godly and the ungodly will rise from the dead. ¹⁶So I always try not to do anything wrong in the eyes of God and man.

¹⁷“I was away for several years. Then I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for those who were poor. I also came to offer sacrifices. ¹⁸They found me doing this in the temple courtyard. I had already been made pure and clean in the usual way. There was no crowd with me. I didn’t stir up any trouble.

¹⁹“But there are some other Jews who should be here in front of you. They are from Asia Minor. They should bring charges if they have anything against me. ²⁰Let the Jews who are here tell you what crime I am guilty of. After all, I was put on trial by the Sanhedrin. ²¹Perhaps they blame me for what I said when I was on trial. I shouted, ‘I believe that people will rise from the dead. That is why I am on trial here today.’ ”

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