Acts 22

1 Brethren and fathers, hear my defence, which I now make to you.

“Men, brothers and fathers, listen to my defense before you now.”

2 And on hearing him speak to them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept the more silence. And he saith:

When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet, and he said:

3 I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, hut brought up in this city, taught at the feet of Gamaliel in the strictness of the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God, as ye all are this day.

“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, just as you all are today.

4 And I persecuted this way [[of belief]] even to death, binding and putting into prisons both men and women,

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

5 as also the high-priest beareth me witness, and all the elderhood; from whom I received letters to the brethren, and was on my way to Damascus to bring those also that were there, bound, to Jerusalem, that they might be punished.

as also the high priest and all the council of elders can bear me witness. I even obtained letters from them to the brothers in Damascus, to bring those also who were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 But it came to pass, as I was on my way, and approaching Damascus, that about noon there suddenly shone around me a great light from heaven;

Now it happened, as I was going and approaching Damascus, about noon, suddenly a strong light from heaven shone around me.

7 and I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?

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

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

So I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Natsorean, whom you are persecuting.’

9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but the voice of him that spoke to me they did not hear.

Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.

10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there thou wilt be told of all which it hath been appointed thee to do.

So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that has been appointed to you to do.’

11 And as I could not see by reason of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand of those that were with me, and came into Damascus.

And since I could not see, because of the brightness of that light, I entered Damascus being led by the hand of those who were with me.

12 But one Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, well spoken of by all the Jews who dwelt there,

Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,

13 came to me, and standing over me said, Brother Saul, receive sight. And I immediately looked up upon him.

came to me, and standing by me said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I looked up at him.

14 And he said, The God of our fathers chose thee to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth;

Then he said: ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear words from His mouth.

15 for thou shalt be a witness for him to all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

For you shall be a witness for Him to all men of the things that you have seen and heard.

16 And now why dost thou delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.

And now, why hesitate? Get up, be baptized and wash away your sins, invoking the name of the Lord.’

17 And it came to pass after my return to Jerusalem, while I was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance,

“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I came to be in a trance

18 and saw him saying to me, Make haste, and go quickly out of Jerusalem; for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

and saw Him saying to me, ‘Hurry up and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.’

19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned, and beat in every synagogue, those that believed in thee;

So I said: ‘Lord, they know that I used to imprison and beat those believing into you, from one synagogue to another;

20 and when the blood of Stephen, thy witness, was shed, I myself was standing by and consenting, and keeping the garments of those who slew him.

and when the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing there and agreeing to his murder, even guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’

21 And he said to me, Depart; for I will send thee far hence to the gentiles.

And He said to me, ‘Get going, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

22 And they listened to him as far as this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth! for it was not fit that he should live.

Well they kept listening to him until this statement, and then they raised their voice and shouted, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for it isn't fitting for him to live!”

23 And as they were crying out, and shaking their garments, and throwing dust into the air,

As they were shouting, tearing off clothes and throwing dust into the air,

24 the chief captain ordered him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might ascertain for what cause they were thus crying out against him.

the commander ordered him to be taken into the barracks, directing that he be interrogated with lashes, in order to learn for what crime they kept shouting against him like that.

25 But when they had stretched him out with the cords, Paul said to the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

But as they stretched him out with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”

26 When the centurion heard this, he went and told the chief captain, saying, What art thou about to do? For this man is a Roman.

Well when the centurion heard that, he went and reported to the commander saying, “Consider what you are about to do, because this man is a Roman!”

27 Then the chief captain came and said to him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yes.

So the commander went and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” So he said, “Yes.”

28 The chief captain answered, For a great sum I obtained this citizenship. And Paul said, But I was born a Roman.

The commander replied, “I acquired this citizenship at considerable cost.” And Paul said, “But I was so born.”

29 They therefore who were about to examine him left him immediately. And the chief captain also was alarmed when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

So those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately; and even the commander was apprehensive when he realized that he had put chains on a Roman.

30 On the morrow, wishing to have certain knowledge why he was accused by the Jews, he released him, and ordered the chief priests and all the council to assemble; and bringing Paul down, he set him before them.

But the next day, desiring to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds and ordered the chief priests and all their council to come, and brought Paul down and set him before them.