Acts 22

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

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear now my apology unto you.

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

And hearing that he was speaking to them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept silent the more.

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.

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

who after this way persecuted unto death, binding and committing to prison both men and women;

5 As also the cohen hagadol 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 Jerusalem in bonds 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 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.

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

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 with me indeed saw the light, and were afraid, but they did not understand the voice of him who 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 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, Rising up, go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee concerning all things which have been ordained for thee 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 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 One Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,

And a certain Ananias, a man godly according to the law, and of good report by all the Jews dwelling there,

13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' In that very hour I looked up 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 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 hath chosen thee to know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice from His mouth;

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

because thou shalt be a witness for Him to all men of those things which thou hast seen and heard.

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

And now why tarriest thou? arising, be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on His name.

17 "It happened that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed 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 and saw him saying to me, 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.'

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

And I said, Lord, they know that I was imprisoning and binding those believing on thee throughout the synagogue;

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

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

And He said to me, Go: because I will send thee far away 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 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 As they yelled, and threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air,

And they crying out, and rending their garments, 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 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 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?"

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

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

And the chiliarch, having come to him, said; Tell me, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes.

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

And the chiliarch responded, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I was indeed born (a Roman 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 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 But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Judeans, he freed him, and commanded the chief cohanim and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set 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.