As in 25.22, the verb said is missing from the Greek sentence and must be supplied in translation.

You have permission to speak may simply be translated as “you may now speak” or “you are allowed to speak.”

Paul stretched out his hand and defended himself must be translated in such a way as to indicate that the stretching out of his hand was a gesture, and not a means by which he was defending himself from physical injury.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .