Acts 22
1 "Brethren and fathers," he said, "listen to my defence which I now make before you."
Varones hermanos, y padres, oíd mi defensa que hago ahora ante vosotros.
2 And on hearing him address them in Hebrew, they kept all the more quiet; and he said,
(Y como oyeron que les hablaba en lengua Hebrea, le dieron más silencio; ) y dijo:
3 "I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I was carefully trained at the feet of Gamaliel in the Law of our forefathers, and, like all of you to-day, was zealous for God.
Yo de cierto soy hombre Judío, nacido en Tarso de Cilicia, mas criado en esta ciudad a los pies de Gamaliel, enseñado conforme a la verdad de la ley de los padres, y siendo zeloso de la ley de Dios, como todos vosotros sois hoy.
4 I persecuted to death this new faith, continually binding both men and women and throwing them into prison;
Que he perseguido este camino hasta la muerte, atando y entregando en cárceles varones y mujeres,
5 as the High Priest also and all the Elders can bear me witness. It was, too, from them that I received letters to the brethren in Damascus, and I was already on my way to Damascus, intending to bring those also who had fled there, in chains to Jerusalem, to be punished.
Como también el sumo sacerdote me es testigo, y toda la asamblea de los ancianos: de los cuales también tomando cartas para los hermanos, iba a Damasco, a fin de traer atados a Jerusalem a los que estuviesen allí, para que fuesen castigados.
6 "But on my way, when I was now not far from Damascus, about noon a sudden blaze of light from Heaven shone round me.
Mas aconteció, que yendo yo, y llegando cerca de Damasco, como a medio día, de repente me rodeó mucha luz del cielo;
7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'
Y caí en el suelo, y oí una voz que me decía: Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues?
8 "'Who art thou, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene,' He replied, 'whom you are persecuting.'
Yo entonces respondí: ¿Quién eres, Señor? Y díjome: Yo soy Jesús el Nazareno, a quien tú persigues.
9 "Now the men who were with me, though they saw the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me.
Y los que estaban conmigo, vieron a la verdad la luz, y se espantaron; mas no oyeron la voz del que hablaba conmigo.
10 And I asked, "'What am I to do, Lord?' "And the Lord said to me, "'Rise, and go into Damascus. There you shall be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.'
Y dije: ¿Qué haré, Señor? Y el Señor me dijo: Levántate, y vé a Damasco, y allí te será dicho de todo lo que te está determinado que hagas.
11 "And as I could not see because the light had been so dazzling, those who were with me had to lead me by the arm, and so I came to Damascus.
Y como yo no veía por causa de la gloria de aquella luz, llevado de la mano por los que estaban conmigo, vine a Damasco.
12 "And a certain Ananias, a pious man who obeyed the Law and bore a good character with all the Jews of the city,
Entonces un cierto Ananías, varón piadoso conforme a la ley, que tenía buen testimonio de todos los Judíos que allí moraban,
13 came to me and standing at my side said, "'Brother Saul, recover your sight.' "I instantly regained my sight and looked up at him.
Viniendo a mí, y presentándose, me dijo: Saulo hermano, recibe la vista. Y yo en aquella misma hora le miré.
14 Then he said, 'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the righteous One and hear Him speak.
Y él dijo: El Dios de nuestros Padres te ha escogido, para que conocieses su voluntad, y vieses a aquel Justo, y oyeses la voz de su boca;
15 For you shall be a witness for Him, to all men, of what you have seen and heard.
Porque has de ser testigo suyo a todos los hombres de lo que has visto y oído.
16 And now why delay? Rise, get yourself baptized, and wash off your sins, calling upon His name.'
Ahora pues, ¿por qué te detienes? Levántate, y sé bautizado, y lava tus pecados, invocando su nombre.
17 "After my return to Jerusalem, and while praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance.
Y me aconteció, vuelto a Jerusalem, que orando en el templo, fui arrebatado fuera de mí,
18 I saw Jesus, and He said to me, "'Make haste and leave Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.'
Y le ví que me decía: Dáte priesa, y sal prestamente fuera de Jerusalem; porque no recibirán tu testimonio de mí.
19 "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know how active I was in imprisoning, and in flogging in synagogue after synagogue those who believe in Thee;
Y yo dije: Señor, ellos saben que yo encerraba en cárcel, y azotaba por las sinagogas a los que creían en ti;
20 and when they were shedding the blood of Stephen, Thy witness, I was standing by, fully approving of it, and I held the clothes of those who were killing him.'
Y cuando se derramaba la sangre de Esteban tu mártir, yo también estaba presente, y consentía a su muerte, y guardaba las ropas de los que le mataban.
21 "'Go,' He replied; 'I will send you as an Apostle to nations far away.'"
Y me dijo: Vé, porque yo te tengo que enviar lejos a los Gentiles.
22 Until they heard this last statement the people listened to Paul, but now with a roar of disapproval they cried out, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! He ought not to be allowed to live."
Y le oyeron hasta esta palabra; y entonces alzaron la voz, diciendo: Quita de la tierra a un tal hombre; porque no conviene que viva.
23 And when they continued their furious shouts, throwing their clothes into the air and flinging dust about,
Y dando ellos voces, y arrojando sus ropas, y echando polvo al aire,
24 the Tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and be examined by flogging, in order to ascertain the reason why they thus cried out against him.
Mandó el tribuno que le llevasen a la fortaleza; y ordenó que fuese examinado con azotes, para saber por qué causa clamaban así contra él.
25 But, when they had tied him up with the straps, Paul said to the Captain who stood by, "Does the Law permit you to flog a Roman citizen--and one too who is uncondemned?"
Y como le ataban con correas, Pablo dijo al centurión que estaba presente: ¿Os es lícito azotar a un hombre Romano, sin ser condenado?
26 On hearing this question, the Captain went to report the matter to the Tribune. "What are you intending to do?" he said. "This man is a Roman citizen."
Y como el centurión oyó esto, fue al tribuno, y le dio aviso, diciendo: Mira lo que vas a hacer; porque este hombre es Romano.
27 So the Tribune came to Paul and asked him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes," he said.
Y viniendo el tribuno le dijo: Díme, ¿eres tú Romano? Y él dijo: Sí.
28 "I paid a large sum for my citizenship," said the Tribune. "But I was born free," said Paul.
Y respondió el tribuno: Yo con mucha suma de dinero alcancé esta ciudadanía. Entonces Pablo dijo: Mas yo aun soy nacido ciudadano.
29 So the men who had been on the point of putting him under torture immediately left him. And the Tribune, too, was frightened when he learnt that Paul was a Roman citizen, for he had had him bound.
Así que, luego se apartaron de él los que le habían de examinar; y aun el tribuno también tuvo temor, entendido que era Romano, por haberle atado.
30 The next day, wishing to know exactly what charge was being brought against him by the Jews, the Tribune ordered his chains to be removed; and, having sent word to the High Priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble, he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.
Y el día siguiente queriendo saber de cierto la causa por qué era acusado de los Judíos, le soltó de las prisiones, y mandó venir a los príncipes de los sacerdotes, y a todo su concilio; y sacando a Pablo, le presentó delante de ellos.
