Acts 22

1 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye the account which I now give unto you.

“Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense I now make to you.”

2 (And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept the more silence.)

When they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. Then he said,

3 And he saith: I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the truth of the law of the fathers, zealous for the law, as also all you are this day:

“I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel and instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today.

4 Who persecuted this way unto death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

I persecuted this Way to the death, binding both men and women and putting them in prison,

5 As the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the ancients: from whom also receiving letters to the brethren, I went to Damascus, that I might bring them bound from thence to Jerusalem to be punished.

as the high priest can testify about me, along with the whole council of elders. From them I received letters to the brothers in Damascus and then made my way there to make arrests and bring the prisoners back to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 And it came to pass, as I was going, and drawing nigh to Damascus at midday, that suddenly from heaven there shone round about me a great light:

“About noon, as I was going along and drawing near to Damascus, a great light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.

7 And falling on the ground, I heard a voice saying to me: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Then I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are yoʋ persecuting me?’

8 And I answered: Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me: I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

I answered, ‘Who are yoʋ, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom yoʋ are persecuting.’

9 And they that were with me, saw indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke with me.

Those who were with me saw the light and were afraid, but they did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

10 And I said: What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me: Arise, and go to Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things that thou must do.

Then I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Rise and go to Damascus, and there yoʋ will be told about all that has been appointed for yoʋ to do.’

11 And whereas I did not see for the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by my companions, I came to Damascus.

But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went into Damascus.

12 And one Ananias, a man according to the law, having testimony of all the Jews who dwelt there,

“Now a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who was well spoken of by all the Jews dwelling there,

13 Coming to me, and standing by me, said to me: Brother Saul, look up. And I the same hour looked upon him.

came and stood beside me. He said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive yoʋr sight,’ and in that very hour I received my sight and saw him.

14 But he said: The God of our fathers hath preordained thee that thou shouldst know his will, and see the Just One, and shouldst hear the voice from his mouth.

Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed yoʋ to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the voice coming from his mouth.

15 For thou shalt be his witness to all men, of those things which thou hast seen and heard.

For yoʋ will be his witness to all people of what yoʋ have seen and heard.

16 And now why tarriest thou? Rise up, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, invoking his name.

And now why do yoʋ delay? Rise and be baptized, and wash away yoʋr sins, calling upon the name of the Lord.’

17 And it came to pass, when I was come again to Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance,

“When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance

18 And saw him saying unto me: Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not accept yoʋr testimony about me.’

19 And I said: Lord, they know that I cast into prison, and beat in every synagogue, them that believed in thee.

So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe in yoʋ.

20 And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I stood by and consented, and kept the garments of them that killed him.

And when the blood of yoʋr witness Stephen was being shed, I myself stood there approving of his execution as I watched over the cloaks of those who were killing him.’

21 And he said to me: Go, for unto the Gentiles afar off, will I send thee.

Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send yoʋ far away to the Gentiles.’”

22 And they heard him until this word, and then lifted up their voice, saying: Away with such an one from the earth; for it is not fit that he should live.

The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement, but then they lifted up their voices and said, “Away with this man from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.”

23 And as they cried out and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,

As they were crying out, throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,

24 The tribune commanded him to be brought into the castle, and that he should be scourged and tortured: to know for what cause they did so cry out against him.

the commander ordered Paul to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out the reason why they were shouting at him in this way.

25 And when they had bound him with thongs, Paul saith to the centurion that stood by him: Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

But as one of the soldiers was stretching Paul out with the straps, Paul said to the centurion standing nearby, “Is it lawful for you to whip a Roman citizen without a proper trial?”

26 Which the centurion hearing, went to the tribune, and told him, saying: What art thou about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.

When the centurion heard this, he went and reported it to the commander, saying, “Consider what yoʋ are about to do, for this man is a Roman citizen.”

27 And the tribune coming, said to him: Tell me, art thou a Roman? But he said: Yea.

So the commander went over and said to Paul, “Tell me, are yoʋ a Roman citizen?” He said, “Yes.”

28 And the tribune answered: I obtained the being free of this city with a great sum. And Paul said: But I was born so.

The commander responded, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.”

29 Immediately therefore they departed from him that were about to torture him. The tribune also was afraid after he understood that he was a Roman citizen, and because he had bound him.

So those who were about to examine him immediately drew back, and the commander was afraid when he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

30 But on the next day, meaning to know more diligently for what cause he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the priests to come together, and all the council: and bringing forth Paul, he set him before them.

So the next day, wishing to know for certain why Paul was being accused by the Jews, the commander released him from his bonds and commanded the chief priests and their entire Sanhedrin to come. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.