Acts 22
1 “Brother and fathers,” he said, “Please listen as I give my defense before you.”
Men, brethren, and fathers, hear now my apology unto you.
2 When they heard him speaking to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.
And hearing that he was speaking to them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept silent the more.
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia,” he began. “However, I was brought up here in this city, and sat at the feet of Gamaliel. I was taught to strictly observe the law of our fathers. I was zealous for God, just like all of you here today,
And he says, I am Jewish man, having been born in Tarsus of Cilicia, having been brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the accuracy of patristic law, being a zealot of God, as you all are this day;
4 and I persecuted the people of this Way—having them put to death, and imprisoning both men and women.
who after this way persecuted unto death, binding and committing to prison both men and women;
5 As the high priest and the council of the elders can also verify, I received from them letters of authorization addressed to the Jewish brothers in Damascus, and went there to arrest these people and bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
as the high priest also, and all the eldership, witnessed me: from whom having also received letters from the brethren in Damascus, I was on my way, being about to lead them also hither into Jerusalem bound, that they might be punished.
6 At around noon, while I was on my way and approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven shone all around me.
And it came to pass, while I was journeying, and nigh unto Damascus, a great light, about midday, suddenly shone from heaven around me;
7 I fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
and I felt upon the ground, and heard a voice, saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8 ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I answered. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting,’ he told me.
And I responded, Who art thou, Lord? And He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom thou art persecuting.
9 Those who were traveling with me did see the light, but they didn't hear the voice that spoke to me.
And those being along with me saw the light indeed, but heard not the voice of the one speaking to me.
10 ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you'll be told everything that's arranged for you to do.’
And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Rising up, go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee concerning all things which have been ordained for thee to do.
11 Since I couldn't see because of the brightness of the light, those who were with me led me by the hand into Damascus.
And when I did not see on account of the glory of that light, and being led by the hand by those journeying with me, I came into Damascus.
12 There a man called Ananias came to see me. He was a religious man who observed the law, and was highly respected by the Jews who lived in the town.
And a certain Ananias, a man godly according to the law, and of good report by all the Jews dwelling there,
13 He stood in front of me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive back your sight.’ At that very moment I could see again, and I looked at him.
having come to me, and standing over me, said, Brother Saul, look up. And I at that hour looked up unto him.
14 He told me, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, to see the one who is truly good and right, and to listen to what he has to say to you.
And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee to know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice from His mouth;
15 You will testify for him to everyone about what you have seen and heard. So what are you waiting for?
because thou shalt be a witness for Him to all men of those things which thou hast seen and heard.
16 Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins as you call on his name.’
And now why tarriest thou? arising, be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on His name.
17 I returned to Jerusalem, and as I was praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance.
And it happened unto me, having returned into Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, I was in an ecstasy;
18 I saw a vision of the Lord telling me, ‘Hurry! You need to leave Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept what you are telling them about me.’
and I saw Him speaking to me, Hasten, and depart quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19 I replied, ‘Lord, they certainly know that I went from synagogue to synagogue, beating and imprisoning those who trusted in you.
And I said, Lord, they know that I was imprisoning and binding those believing on thee throughout the synagogue;
20 When Stephen was killed for testifying about you I was standing there in full agreement with those who killed him, holding their coats for them.’
and when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of those killing him.
21 The Lord told me, ‘Leave now, for I am sending you far away to the foreigners.’”
And He said to me, Go: because I will send thee far away to the Gentiles.
22 Up until this point they had listened to what he was saying, but then they started shouting, “Get rid of this man from the earth—he doesn't deserve to live!”
And they continued to hear him until this word, and lifted up their voice, saying, Take away such a one from the earth: for it is not appropriate for him to live.
23 They screamed and tore off their coats and threw dust into the air.
And they crying out, and rending their garments, and throwing dust into the air,
24 The commander ordered Paul brought into the fortress, and gave orders for him to be interrogated by flogging so he could find out the reason people were shouting so much against Paul.
the chiliarch commanded that he should be led into the castle, saying that he should be tested by scourges, in order that he might know on account of what cause they continued so to cry out against him.
25 As they stretched him out and tied him down to flog him, Paul asked the centurion standing there, “Is it legal to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't had a trial?”
And when they were extending him to the scourges, Paul said to the centurion standing by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?
26 When the centurion heard what Paul said, he went to the commander and asked him, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen.”
And the centurion hearing, having come to the chiliarch, announced to him, saying, What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.
27 The commander came, and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” Paul replied, “Yes I am.”
And the chiliarch, having come to him, said; Tell me, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes.
28 “I paid a lot of money to buy Roman citizenship,” said the commander. “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.
And the chiliarch responded, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I was indeed born (a Roman citizen).
29 Those who were about to interrogate Paul left immediately. The commander was worried when he found out that Paul was a Roman citizen because he had placed him in chains.
Then immediately those about to scourge him departed from him: and the chiliarch also feared, knowing that he was a Roman, and that he had bound him.
30 The next day, wanting to find out the reason why the Jews were accusing Paul, he had him released and taken before the chief priests and the whole council which he ordered to assemble. He had Paul brought down and placed him before them.
And on the following day, wishing to know the certainty as to what he is accused of by the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the sanhedrin to come together, and leading down Paul, he placed him in their midst.
