Acts 22

1 “Brother and fathers,” he said, “Please listen as I give my defense before you.”

Men brothers and fathers, do hear of me the to you (now *N(k)O*) defense.

2 When they heard him speaking to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.

Having heard then that in the Hebrew language he was addressing them, even more they became quiet. And he says;

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,

I myself (indeed *k*) am a man Jewish born in Tarsus of Cilicia, brought up however in city this at the feet of Gamaliel instructed according to [the] exactness of the of our Fathers law, a zealous one being for God even as all you yourselves are this day,

4 and I persecuted the people of this Way—having them put to death, and imprisoning both men and women.

who this Way persecuted as far as death binding and betraying to prisons men both 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 also the high priest bears witness to me and all the elderhood, from whom also letters having received to the brothers to Damascus I was on my way going to bring also those there being bound to Jerusalem in order that they may 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.

It happened however to me journeying and drawing near to Damascus about noon suddenly out of heaven shining a light great around me myself;

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

I fell then to the ground and heard a voice saying to me; Saul Saul, why Me persecute you?

8 ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I answered. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting,’ he told me.

I myself then answered; Who are You Lord? He said then to me; I myself am Jesus of Nazareth whom you yourself are persecuting.

9 Those who were traveling with me did see the light, but they didn't hear the voice that spoke to me.

Those then with me myself being the indeed light beheld (and terrified they were *K*) the however voice not did they hear 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.’

I said then; What shall I do Lord? And the Lord said to me; Having risen up do go to Damascus, and there and there you it will be told concerning all things that it has been appointed you 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.

While now not I was seeing because of the brightness of the light that, being led by the hand by those being with me I came to 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.

Ananias then certain, a man (devout *N(k)O*) according to the law, borne witness to by all the dwelling [there] Jews,

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 having stood by [me] he said to me; Saul brother, do receive sight. And I myself And I myself on the same hour looked up at 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 the fathers of us has appointed you to know the will of Him and to see the Righteous One and to hear [the] voice out of the mouth of Him;

15 You will testify for him to everyone about what you have seen and heard. So what are you waiting for?

For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard.

16 Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins as you call on his name.’

And now why delay you? Having arisen do yourself be baptized and do yourself wash away the sins of you calling on the name (of Him. *N(K)O*)

17 I returned to Jerusalem, and as I was praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance.

It happened then to me having returned to Jerusalem and praying by me in the temple falling I into a trance

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 seeing Him saying to me; do make haste and do go away with speed out of Jerusalem, because not they will receive your (*k*) testimony about 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 myself And I myself said; Lord, they themselves know that I myself was imprisoning and beating in each of those synagogues those believing on You;

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 was poured out the blood of Stephen the witness of You, also I myself was already standing by and consenting (to the killing of him *K*) and watching over the garments of those executing him.

21 The Lord told me, ‘Leave now, for I am sending you far away to the foreigners.’”

And He said to me; do go, for I myself to [the] Gentiles far away will send you.

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!”

They were listening now to him until this word and they lifted up the voice of them saying; Away from the earth [with] such; Not for (it was proper *N(k)O*) [for] him to live!

23 They screamed and tore off their coats and threw dust into the air.

(While shouting out *NK(o)*) (then *N(k)O*) they and casting off the garments and dust throwing 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.

Ordered the commander (to be brought in *N(k)O*) him into the barracks having directed by flogging to be examined him, so that he may know for what cause like this they were crying 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?”

As however (they stretched forward *N(k)O*) him with the straps, said to the already standing by centurion Paul; If a man a Roman and uncondemned it is lawful to you to flog?

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.”

Having heard then the centurion having gone to the commander he reported [it] saying; (do you see *K*) what are you going to do? for man this a Roman is.

27 The commander came, and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” Paul replied, “Yes I am.”

Having come near then the commander said to him; do tell me, (if *k*) you yourself a Roman are? And he was saying; Yes.

28 “I paid a lot of money to buy Roman citizenship,” said the commander. “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

Answered (then *N(k)O*) the commander; I myself with a great sum citizenship this bought. But Paul was saying; I myself however even has been born [so].

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.

Immediately therefore departed from him those being about him to examine. and the commander also was afraid having ascertained that a Roman he is and because him he had having bound.

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.

On the now next day desiring to know for certain why he is accused (by *N(k)O*) the Jews, he unbound him (from the chains *K*) and commanded (to assemble *N(k)O*) the chief priests and (all *N(k)O*) the council (of them, *k*) And having brought down Paul he set [him] among them.