Acts 22

1 Paul said, “[Jewish] elders and my other fellow Jews, listen to me now while I reply to [those who are accusing me]!”

Men brothers and fathers, do hear of me the to you (now *N(k)O*) defense.

2 When the crowd of people heard Paul speaking to them in [their own] Hebrew language, they became even more quiet and really listened. Then Paul said to them,

Having heard then that in the Hebrew language he was addressing them, even more they became quiet. And he says;

3 “I am a Jew, [as are all of you]. I was born in Tarsus [city], in Cilicia [province], but I grew up here in Jerusalem. [When I was young, for many years] I studied the laws [that Moses gave to our ancestors]. I was taught by [the famous teacher] Gamaliel [MTY] {[The famous teacher] Gamaliel taught [MTY] me}. [I have] carefully [obeyed those laws, because] I have wanted to obey God. I [am sure that] many of you also carefully obey [those laws].

I myself (indeed *k*) am a man Jewish born in Tarsus of Cilicia, brought up however in city this at the feet of Gamaliel instructed according to [the] exactness of the of our Fathers law, a zealous one being for God even as all you yourselves are this day,

4 [That is why] I previously persecuted those who believe the message [that people call] the Way [that Jesus taught. I continually looked for ways] to kill [them. Whenever I found] men or women [who believed that message], I [commanded that] they should be seized and thrown {[people to] seize them and throw them} into jail.

who this Way persecuted as far as death binding and betraying to prisons men both and women,

5 The supreme priest knows this, and so do the [other respected men who belong to our Jewish] Council. They gave me letters to [take to] their fellow Jews in Damascus [city. By means of those letters, they authorized me to] go to there and find people who believed in [Jesus. They had written in the letters that I was to bring those people] as prisoners to Jerusalem, so that they would be punished here {[the leaders here] could punish them}. [So I went on my way to Damascus].

as also the high priest bears witness to me and all the elderhood, from whom also letters having received to the brothers to Damascus I was on my way going to bring also those there being bound to Jerusalem in order that they may be punished.

6 About noon, my companions and I were getting near Damascus. Suddenly a bright light from the sky flashed all around me.

It happened however to me journeying and drawing near to Damascus about noon suddenly out of heaven shining a light great around me myself;

7 [The light was so bright that] I fell to the ground. Then I heard the voice [of someone] speaking to me [from up in the sky. The one who was speaking to me said], ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you [(sg)] do things to harm me?’

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

8 I answered, ‘Who are you?’ He replied, ‘I am Jesus from Nazareth. I [am the one] whom you [(sg)] are harming [by doing things to harm my followers].’

I myself then answered; Who are You Lord? He said then to me; I myself am Jesus of Nazareth whom you yourself are persecuting.

9 The men who were [traveling] with me saw the [very bright] light, [and they heard a voice], but they did not understand what the voice said to me.

Those then with me myself being the indeed light beheld (and terrified they were *K*) the however voice not did they hear the [One] speaking to me.

10 Then I asked, ‘Lord, what [do you want] me to do?’ The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus! [A man] there will tell you [(sg)] all that I have planned for you to do.’

I said then; What shall I do Lord? And the Lord said to me; Having risen up do go to Damascus, and there and there you it will be told concerning all things that it has been appointed you to do.

11 [After that, I could not see], because the [very bright] light had caused me to become blind. So my companions took me by the hand and led me until [we(exc) arrived] in Damascus.

While now not I was seeing because of the brightness of the light that, being led by the hand by those being with me I came to Damascus.

12 [A couple of days] later, a man whose name was Ananias came to [see] me. He was a man who [greatly respected God and] carefully obeyed [our Jewish] laws. All the Jews living in Damascus said good things about him.

Ananias then certain, a man (devout *N(k)O*) according to the law, borne witness to by all the dwelling [there] Jews,

13 He came and stood beside me and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, see [again]!’ Instantly I could see! I saw Ananias [standing there beside me].

having come to me and having stood by [me] he said to me; Saul brother, do receive sight. And I myself And I myself on the same hour looked up at him.

14 Then he said: ‘The God whom [we(inc) worship and] whom our ancestors [worshipped] has chosen you and will show you what he wants [you to do. He has allowed you] to see the righteous one, [the Messiah], and you have heard him speaking [to you].

And he said; The God of the fathers of us has appointed you to know the will of Him and to see the Righteous One and to hear [the] voice out of the mouth of Him;

15 He wants you to tell people everywhere what you have seen and heard [from him].

For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard.

16 So now (do not delay!/why delay?) [RHQ] Stand up, let [me] baptize you, and by praying to the Lord [Jesus ask God] to forgive you [(sg)] for your sins!’”

And now why delay you? Having arisen do yourself be baptized and do yourself wash away the sins of you calling on the name (of Him. *N(K)O*)

17 “Later, I returned to Jerusalem. [One day] I went to the Temple courtyard. While I was praying there, I saw a vision [in which]

It happened then to me having returned to Jerusalem and praying by me in the temple falling I into a trance

18 I saw the Lord speaking to me. He said to me, ‘[Do not stay here]! Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people [here] will not (believe/listen to) what you [(sg)] tell [them] about me!’

and seeing Him saying to me; do make haste and do go away with speed out of Jerusalem, because not they will receive your (*k*) testimony about Me.

19 But I [protested and] said to him, ‘Lord, they know that I went to many of our meeting houses looking for people who believe in you. I was putting in jail those [whom I found] who believed in you, and I was even beating them.

And I myself And I myself said; Lord, they themselves know that I myself was imprisoning and beating in each of those synagogues those believing on You;

20 [They remember that] when Stephen was killed [MTY] {when people killed [MTY] Stephen} because he told people about you, I stood there [watching it all] and approving [what they were doing]. I [even] guarded the outer garments that those who were murdering him [had thrown aside. So if I stay here, the fact that I have changed how I think about you will surely impress those leaders of our people].’

And when was poured out the blood of Stephen the witness of You, also I myself was already standing by and consenting (to the killing of him *K*) and watching over the garments of those executing him.

21 But the Lord said to me, ‘No, [do not stay here]! Leave [Jerusalem, because] I am going to send you [(sg)] far away [from here] to non-Jewish people!’”

And He said to me; do go, for I myself to [the] Gentiles far away will send you.

22 The people listened [quietly] to what Paul was saying until [he mentioned the Lord sending him to non-Jewish people]. Then they began shouting [angrily], “Kill him! [He does not deserve to live any longer]!” [They said that because they could not believe that God would save anyone except Jews].

They were listening now to him until this word and they lifted up the voice of them saying; Away from the earth [with] such; Not for (it was proper *N(k)O*) [for] him to live!

23 While they continued shouting, [“Kill him!”] they took off their cloaks and threw dust into the air, [which showed how angry they were].

(While shouting out *NK(o)*) (then *N(k)O*) they and casting off the garments and dust throwing into the air

24 So the commander [commanded] that Paul be taken {[soldiers] to take Paul} into the barracks. He told [the soldiers] that they should strike Paul with a whip [that had pieces of bone/metal on the end of it], in order to make him tell what he had done that made the Jews shout so angrily. [So the soldiers took Paul into the barracks].

Ordered the commander (to be brought in *N(k)O*) him into the barracks having directed by flogging to be examined him, so that he may know for what cause like this they were crying out against him.

25 Then they stretched his arms out [and tied them] so that they could whip him [on his back. But] Paul said to the officer who was standing nearby [watching], “[You(sg) should think carefully about this]! You will certainly be [RHQ] acting unlawfully if you whip me, a Roman [citizen whom] no [one has put on trial and] condemned!”

As however (they stretched forward *N(k)O*) him with the straps, said to the already standing by centurion Paul; If a man a Roman and uncondemned it is lawful to you to flog?

26 When the officer heard that, he went to the commander and reported it to him. He said [to the commander], “This man is a Roman [citizen] (Surely you would not [command us to whip him]!/Do you really want [us to whip him]?) [RHQ]”

Having heard then the centurion having gone to the commander he reported [it] saying; (do you see *K*) what are you going to do? for man this a Roman is.

27 The commander [was surprised when he heard that. He himself] went [into the barracks] and said to Paul, “Tell me, are you [(sg) really] a Roman [citizen]?” Paul answered, “Yes, I [am].”

Having come near then the commander said to him; do tell me, (if *k*) you yourself a Roman are? And he was saying; Yes.

28 Then the commander said, “[I am also a Roman citizen]. I paid a lot of money to become a [Roman] citizen.” Paul said, “But I was born a [Roman] citizen, [so I did not need to pay anything].”

Answered (then *N(k)O*) the commander; I myself with a great sum citizenship this bought. But Paul was saying; I myself however even has been born [so].

29 The soldiers [were about to whip Paul and to ask him questions about what he had done. But when they heard what Paul said, they] left him immediately. The commander also became afraid, because he realized that Paul was a Roman [citizen] and that he had [illegally commanded soldiers to] tie up Paul’s [hands].

Immediately therefore departed from him those being about him to examine. and the commander also was afraid having ascertained that a Roman he is and because him he had having bound.

30 [The commander still] wanted to know exactly why the Jews were accusing Paul. So the next day he [told the soldiers to] take the chains off Paul. He also summoned the chief priests and the [other Jewish] Council [members]. Then he took Paul [to where the Council was meeting] and [commanded] him to stand before them.

On the now next day desiring to know for certain why he is accused (by *N(k)O*) the Jews, he unbound him (from the chains *K*) and commanded (to assemble *N(k)O*) the chief priests and (all *N(k)O*) the council (of them, *k*) And having brought down Paul he set [him] among them.