This verse is spoken by Abimelech, the king of Gerar, to God in a dream. Abimelech is defending himself against God's warning that he will die for taking Sarah (Abraham's wife) into his household.

Let's break down the verse:

"Didn’t he tell me, ‘She is my sister?'": Abraham had previously lied to Abimelech, claiming Sarah was his sister, not his wife. This was a recurring pattern for Abraham, born out of fear for his life. He believed that if the local men knew Sarah was his wife, they would kill him to take her.
"She, even she herself, said, ‘He is my brother.'": Sarah corroborated Abraham's lie, reinforcing the deception.
"In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”: This is Abimelech's plea for innocence. He claims that he acted in good faith, believing Abraham and Sarah's false statements. He emphasizes that he had no malicious intent and was unaware of their true relationship. He states his actions were taken with a "pure heart" and that he hasn't acted wrongly ("innocence of my hands").

In essence, Abimelech is arguing that he is innocent of any wrongdoing because he was deceived. He took Sarah into his household believing she was Abraham's sister, not his wife. Therefore, he believes he should not be punished for something he did unknowingly and without malice.

Key takeaways:

Deception: The verse highlights the impact of Abraham and Sarah's deception.
Abimelech's Defense: Abimelech asserts his innocence based on being misled.
Divine Justice: The verse sets the stage for God's response, which will reveal His understanding of the situation and His judgment. It presents the question of whether ignorance is a valid defense against wrongdoing.

The verse raises questions about moral responsibility, the consequences of deception, and God's justice in dealing with human fallibility.