Acts 22
1 “Brother and fathers,” he said, “Please listen as I give my defense before you.”
“Hermanos y padres, escuchad la defensa que ahora os hago”.
2 When they heard him speaking to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.
Cuando oyeron que les hablaba en lengua hebrea, se callaron aún más. Dijo:
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,
“En verdad soy judío, nacido en Tarso de Cilicia, pero criado en esta ciudad a los pies de Gamaliel, instruido según la estricta tradición de la ley de nuestros padres, siendo celoso de Dios, como lo sois todos vosotros hoy.
4 and I persecuted the people of this Way—having them put to death, and imprisoning both men and women.
Perseguí a este Camino hasta la muerte, atando y entregando en las cárceles tanto a hombres como a mujeres,
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.
como también lo atestiguan el sumo sacerdote y todo el consejo de ancianos, de quienes también recibí cartas para los hermanos, y viajé a Damasco para llevar también a Jerusalén a los que estaban allí atados para ser castigados.
6 At around noon, while I was on my way and approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven shone all around me.
“Mientras hacía mi viaje y me acercaba a Damasco, hacia el mediodía, una gran luz brilló a mi alrededor desde el cielo.
7 I fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
Caí al suelo y oí una voz que me decía: “Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues?”
8 ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I answered. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting,’ he told me.
Respondí: “¿Quién eres, Señor?” Me dijo: “Yo soy Jesús de Nazaret, a quien tú persigues”.
9 Those who were traveling with me did see the light, but they didn't hear the voice that spoke to me.
“Los que estaban conmigo, en efecto, vieron la luz y tuvieron miedo, pero no entendieron la voz del que me hablaba.
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.’
Yo dije: “¿Qué debo hacer, Señor? El Señor me dijo: ‘Levántate y ve a Damasco. Allí se te informará de todo lo que está previsto que hagas’.
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.
Cuando no podía ver por la gloria de aquella luz, siendo conducido de la mano de los que estaban conmigo, entré en Damasco.
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.
“Un tal Ananías, hombre piadoso según la ley, del que tenían buena fama todos los judíos que vivían en Damasco,
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.
se acercó a mí y, de pie, me dijo: “Hermano Saulo, recibe la vista”. En aquella misma hora le miré.
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.
Me dijo: “El Dios de nuestros padres te ha designado para que conozcas su voluntad, para que veas al Justo y oigas la voz de su boca.
15 You will testify for him to everyone about what you have seen and heard. So what are you waiting for?
Porque serás testigo de él ante todos los hombres de lo que has visto y oído.
16 Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins as you call on his name.’
Ahora, ¿por qué esperáis? Levántate, bautízate y lava tus pecados, invocando el nombre del Señor’.
17 I returned to Jerusalem, and as I was praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance.
“Cuando volví a Jerusalén y mientras oraba en el templo, caí en un 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.’
y vi que me decía: ‘Date prisa y sal de Jerusalén rápidamente, porque no recibirán el testimonio de ti sobre mí’.
19 I replied, ‘Lord, they certainly know that I went from synagogue to synagogue, beating and imprisoning those who trusted in you.
Le dije: ‘Señor, ellos mismos saben que yo encarcelé y golpeé en todas las sinagogas a los que creían en ti.
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.’
Cuando se derramó la sangre de Esteban, tu testigo, yo también estaba de pie, consintiendo su muerte y guardando los mantos de los que lo mataron.’
21 The Lord told me, ‘Leave now, for I am sending you far away to the foreigners.’”
“Me dijo: ‘Vete, porque te enviaré lejos de aquí a los 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!”
Le escucharon hasta que dijo eso; entonces levantaron la voz y dijeron: “¡Limpia la tierra de este tipo, porque no es apto para vivir!”
23 They screamed and tore off their coats and threw dust into the air.
Mientras gritaban, se quitaban los mantos y arrojaban polvo al aire,
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.
el comandante mandó que lo llevaran al cuartel, ordenando que lo examinaran mediante la flagelación, para saber por qué delito gritaban así contra él.
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?”
Cuando le ataron con correas, Pablo preguntó al centurión que estaba allí: “¿Os es lícito azotar a un hombre que es romano y no ha sido declarado culpable?”
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.”
Cuando el centurión lo oyó, se dirigió al oficial al mando y le dijo: “¡Cuidado con lo que vas a hacer, porque este hombre es un romano!”
27 The commander came, and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” Paul replied, “Yes I am.”
El oficial al mando se acercó y le preguntó: “Dime, ¿eres romano?” Dijo: “Sí”.
28 “I paid a lot of money to buy Roman citizenship,” said the commander. “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.
El comandante respondió: “Compré mi ciudadanía a un gran precio”. Pablo dijo: “Pero yo nací romano”.
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.
Inmediatamente se apartaron de él los que iban a interrogarle, y también el comandante tuvo miedo al ver que era romano, porque le había atado.
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.
Pero al día siguiente, deseando saber la verdad sobre el motivo por el que era acusado por los judíos, le liberó de las ataduras y mandó reunir a los jefes de los sacerdotes y a todo el consejo, e hizo bajar a Pablo y lo presentó ante ellos.
