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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_22:1
1"Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you."
Act_22:1
NASB "Brethren and fathers"
NKJV "Men, brethren and fathers"
NRSV "Brothers and fathers"
TEV "My fellow Jews"
NJB "My brothers, my fathers"
A Translator's Handbook on the Acts of the Apostles, by Newman and Nida says this implies men of Paul's age and those older than he (cf. p. 419). However, I think this must be an idiom (Stephen used the same introductory statement in Act_7:2) because Paul was over sixty by this point and this does not fit the age of the mob.
There would have been some believers in this crowd. Possibly the term "the brothers" uniquely refers to them. However, Paul always identified with his race and nationality (cf. Rom_9:1-5; Php_3:5).
▣ "defense" We get the English term "apology" from this Greek word (apologia). It means a legal verbal defense. This term is used several times in Acts related to Paul's trials (cf. Act_25:16; 2Ti_4:16).