ἀπολογέομαι

ἀπολογοῦμαι; imperfect ἀπελογουμην (Acts 26:1); 1 aorist ἀπελογησαμην; 1 aorist passive infinitive ἀπολογηθῆναι, in a reflexive sense (Lk 21:14); a deponent middle verb (from λόγος), properly, "to speak so as to absolve (ἀπό) oneself, talk oneself off" of a charge etc.;
1. to defend oneself, make one's defense: absolutely, Lk 21:14; Acts 26:1; followed by ὅτι, Acts 25:8; τί, to bring forward something in defense of oneself, Lk 12:11; Acts 26:24 (often so in Greek writings also); τά περί ἐμαυτοῦ ἀπολογοῦμαι either I bring forward what contributes to my defense (?), or I plead my own cause (R. V. make my defense), Acts 24:10; περί with the genitive of the thing and ἐπί with the genitive of person, concerning a thing before one's tribunal, Acts 26:2; with the dative of the person whom by my defense I strive to convince that I am innocent or upright, to defend or justify myself in one's eyes (A. V. unto), Acts 19:33; 2 Cor 12:19 (Plato, Prot., p. 859 a.; often in Lucian, Plutarch; (cf. Buttmann, 172 (149))).
2. to defend a person or a thing (so not infrequent in secular authors): Rom 2:15 (where according to the context the deeds of men must be understood as defended); τά περί ἐμοῦ, Acts 26:2 (but see under 1).