Acts 22

1 "Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you."

Brethren and fathers, hear my defense, which I now make before you.

2 When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said,

When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept the greater silence. And he said:

3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day.

I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, yet educated in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, and instructed according to the strict discipline of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, as you all are this day.

4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

And I persecuted this way to the death, binding and delivering into prison both men and women,

5 As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Urishlim in bonds to be punished.

as the chief priest and the whole body of elders will testify for me. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring those, also, who were there, bound to Jerusalem, that they might be punished.

6 It happened that, as I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from the sky a great light around me.

But it came to pass, that, as I was on my journey, and was drawing near to Damascus, about midday, there suddenly shone from heaven a great light round about me;

7 I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Shaul, Shaul, why are you persecuting me?'

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

8 I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Yeshua the Natsraya, whom you persecute.'

And I answered, Who art thou Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you persecute.

9 "Those who were with me indeed saw the light, and were afraid, but they did not understand the voice of him who spoke to me.

They who were with me saw the light, and were afraid, but did not understand the voice of him who spoke to me.

10 I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' The Lord said to me, 'Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.'

And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go into Damascus, and there you shall be told of all things that are appointed for you to do.

11 When I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

And as I could not see for the glory of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went into Damascus.

12 One Khananya, a devout man according to the Law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,

And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good report from all the Jews that dwelt there,

13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Shaul, receive your sight.' In that very hour I looked up at him.

came to me, and standing by me, said, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And the same hour I looked upon him.

14 He said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.

And he said, The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know his will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of his mouth;

15 For you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard.

for you shall be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

16 Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'

And now, why do you delay? Arise, and be immersed, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

17 "It happened that, when I had returned to Urishlim, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,

And it came to pass, after I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance,

18 and saw him saying to me, 'Hurry and get out of Urishlim quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.'

and saw him saying to me, Make haste, and depart quickly from Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony concerning me.

19 I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you.

And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I threw into prison, and scourged, in every synagogue, those who believed on thee;

20 When the blood of Astapanos, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.'

and that when the blood of Stephen, thy witness, was shed, I also stood by and approved, and kept the clothing of those who slew him.

21 "He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you out far from here to non-Jewish people.'"

And he said to me, Depart, for I will send you far off to the Gentiles.

22 They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, "Rid the earth of this fellow, for he is not fit to live."

And they heard him to this word, and lifted up their voice, saying: Away with such a man from the earth! for it is not fit that he should live.

23 As they yelled, and threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air,

And as they were crying out, and tossing off their clothes, and throwing dust into the air,

24 the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they yelled at him like that.

the officer commanded him to be led into the fortress, and gave orders that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so cried out against him.

25 When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?"

But Paul said to the centurion who stood by, as he caused him to be bent forward to the straps: Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?

26 When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman."

And when the centurion heard that, he went out and told it to the officer, saying: What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.

27 The commanding officer came and asked him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" He said, "Yes."

And the officer came and said to him: Tell me, are you a Roman? He answered: Yes.

28 The commanding officer answered, "I bought my citizenship for a great price." Paul said, "But I was born a Roman."

And the officer answered: With a great Bum did I purchase this citizenship. And Paul replied: But I was born a citizen.

29 Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.

Then, those who were about to examine him, immediately departed from him. And the officer was afraid, when he learned that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

30 But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

And, on the next day, wishing to know certainly why he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the Sanhedrim to meet together. And he brought Paul down, and placed him before them.