Acts 22

1 Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.

MEN, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my apology which I now offer unto you.

2 And when they heard that he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: and he saith,

Then when they heard that he spoke unto them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept the more silence: and he said,

3 I am 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 ye all are this day:

I am indeed a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but educated in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed accurately in the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, as ye all are this day:

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

so much so that I persecuted this way unto death, binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women.

5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and journeyed to Damascus, to bring them also which were there unto Jerusalem in bonds, for to be punished.

As also the high-priest will bear me witness, and all the body of elders: from whom also having received letters unto the brethren, I went unto Damascus, to bring those who were there in chains unto Jerusalem, that they might be punished.

6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and drew nigh unto Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

But as I went and drew nigh to Damascus, at noon-day, suddenly there shone a great light from heaven around me.

7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

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

9 And they that were with me beheld indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

Now they who were with me saw the light indeed, and were terrified; but the voice of him that spake to me heard they not.

10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

Then I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, go into Damascus; and there information shall be given thee of all things which are ordained for thee to do.

11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

Then as I could no longer see through the dazzling brightness of that light, led by the hand of those who were with me, I came to Damascus.

12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there,

And one Ananias, a religious man according to the law, and in high repute with all the Jews dwelling there,

13 came unto me, and standing by me said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I looked up on him.

came to me, and standing by me, said, Brother Saul, recover sight. And the same hour I looked up at him.

14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee 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 predestinated thee to know his will, and to see the Just One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.

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

For thou shalt be a witness for him to all men, of the things which thou hast seen and heard.

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.

And now why delay? arise, to be baptised, and wash away thy sins, calling upon the name of the Lord.

17 And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,

Now it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance;

18 and saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: because they will not receive of thee testimony concerning me.

and beheld him saying to me, Make haste, and depart quickly from Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony of me.

19 And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

And I said, Lord, they know that I was imprisoning and scourging from synagogue to synagogue those who believe on thee:

20 and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that slew him.

and when the blood of Stephen thy martyr was shed, I myself even stood by, and took delight in his execution, and guarded the garments of those who slew him.

21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles.

And he said to me, Go: for I will send thee forth to the Gentiles afar off.

22 And they gave him audience unto this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

And they gave him audience to this sentence, and lifted up their voice, saying, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

23 And as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,

So when they began raising a vast clamour, and stripping off their garments, and casting dust into the air,

24 the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him.

the military tribune commanded him to be brought into the fortress, ordering that he should be put to the question by scourging; that he might know for what cause they clamoured so loudly against him.

25 And when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

So as they were tying him up for the thongs, Paul said to the centurion standing by him, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?

26 And when the centurion heard it, he went to the chief captain, and told him, saying, What art thou about to do? for this man is a Roman.

And when the centurion heard this, he came and told the military tribune, saying, Consider what you are going to do: for this man is a Roman citizen.

27 And the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said, Yea.

Then the tribune came, and said to him, Tell me, art thou a Roman citizen? And he said, Yes.

28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I am [a Roman] born.

And the tribune replied, With a large sum of money I purchased this citizenship. And Paul said, But I enjoy it as my birthright.

29 They then which were about to examine him straightway departed from him: and the chief captain also was afraid, when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

Immediately then they who were about to put him to the question, withdrew from him: and indeed the tribune dreaded the consequences, when he knew that he was a Roman citizen, that he had even gone so far as to bind him.

30 But on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty, wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

So on the morrow, desirous to know of a certainty what it was of which he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him from the bonds, and commanded the high-priest and all the sanhedrim to appear, and bringing Paul down, set him before them.