Middle voice from a compound of apo and logos; to give an account (legal plea) of oneself, i.e. Exculpate (self) -- answer (for self), make defence, excuse (self), speak for self.
see GREEK apo
see GREEK logos
1. to defend oneself, make one's defense: absolutely, Luke 21:14; Acts 26:1; followed by ὅτι, Acts 25:8; τί, to bring forward something in defense of oneself, Luke 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 Corinthians 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): Romans 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).