Apostelgeschichte 22
1 Brüder und Väter, höret jetzt meine Verantwortung an euch!
Paul said, “[Jewish] elders and my other fellow Jews, listen to me now while I reply to [those who are accusing me]!”
2 Als sie aber hörten, daß er sie in hebräischer Mundart anredete, beobachteten sie desto mehr Stille.
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,
3 Und er spricht: Ich bin ein jüdischer Mann, geboren zu Tarsus in Cilicien; aber auferzogen in dieser Stadt zu den Füßen Gamaliels, unterwiesen nach der Strenge des väterlichen Gesetzes, war ich, wie ihr alle heute seid, ein Eiferer für Gott;
“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].
4 der ich diesen Weg verfolgt habe bis zum Tode, indem ich sowohl Männer als Weiber band und in die Gefängnisse überlieferte,
[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.
5 wie auch der Hohepriester und die ganze Ältestenschaft mir Zeugnis gibt, von denen ich auch Briefe an die Brüder empfing und nach Damaskus reiste, um auch diejenigen, die dort waren, gebunden nach Jerusalem zu führen, auf daß sie gestraft würden.
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].
6 Es geschah mir aber, als ich reiste und Damaskus nahte, daß um Mittag plötzlich aus dem Himmel ein großes Licht mich umstrahlte.
About noon, my companions and I were getting near Damascus. Suddenly a bright light from the sky flashed all around me.
7 Und ich fiel zu Boden und hörte eine Stimme, die zu mir sprach: Saul, Saul, was verfolgst du mich?
[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?’
8 Ich aber antwortete: Wer bist du, Herr? Und er sprach zu mir: Ich bin Jesus, der Nazaräer, den du verfolgst.
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].’
9 Die aber bei mir waren, sahen zwar das Licht [und wurden voll Furcht], aber die Stimme dessen, der mit mir redete, hörten sie nicht.
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.
10 Ich sprach aber: Was soll ich tun, Herr? Der Herr aber sprach zu mir: Stehe auf und geh nach Damaskus, und daselbst wird dir von allem gesagt werden, was dir zu tun verordnet ist.
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.’
11 Als ich aber vor der Herrlichkeit jenes Lichtes nicht sehen konnte, wurde ich von denen, die bei mir waren, an der Hand geleitet und kam nach Damaskus.
[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.
12 Ein gewisser Ananias aber, ein frommer Mann nach dem Gesetz, der ein gutes Zeugnis hatte von allen daselbst wohnenden Juden,
[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.
13 kam zu mir, trat herzu und sprach zu mir: Bruder Saul, sei sehend! Und zu derselben Stunde schaute ich zu ihm auf.
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].
14 Er aber sprach: Der Gott unserer Väter hat dich zuvor verordnet, seinen Willen zu erkennen und den Gerechten zu sehen und eine Stimme aus seinem Munde zu hören.
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].
15 Denn du wirst ihm an alle Menschen ein Zeuge sein von dem, was du gesehen und gehört hast.
He wants you to tell people everywhere what you have seen and heard [from him].
16 Und nun, was zögerst du? Stehe auf, laß dich taufen und deine Sünden abwaschen, indem du seinen Namen anrufst.
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!’”
17 Es geschah mir aber, als ich nach Jerusalem zurückgekehrt war und in dem Tempel betete, daß ich in Entzückung geriet und ihn sah,
“Later, I returned to Jerusalem. [One day] I went to the Temple courtyard. While I was praying there, I saw a vision [in which]
18 der zu mir sprach: Eile und geh schnell aus Jerusalem hinaus, denn sie werden dein Zeugnis über mich nicht annehmen.
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!’
19 Und ich sprach: Herr, sie selbst wissen, daß ich die an dich Glaubenden ins Gefängnis warf und in den Synagogen schlug;
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.
20 und als das Blut deines Zeugen Stephanus vergossen wurde, stand auch ich dabei und willigte mit ein und verwahrte die Kleider derer, welche ihn umbrachten.
[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].’
21 Und er sprach zu mir: Gehe hin, denn ich werde dich weit weg zu den Nationen senden.
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!’”
22 Sie hörten ihm aber zu bis zu diesem Worte und erhoben ihre Stimme und sagten: Hinweg von der Erde mit einem solchen, denn es geziemte sich nicht, daß er am Leben blieb!
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].
23 Als sie aber schrieen und die Kleider wegschleuderten und Staub in die Luft warfen,
While they continued shouting, [“Kill him!”] they took off their cloaks and threw dust into the air, [which showed how angry they were].
24 befahl der Oberste, daß er in das Lager gebracht würde, und sagte, man solle ihn mit Geißelhieben ausforschen, auf daß er erführe, um welcher Ursache willen sie also gegen ihn schrieen.
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].
25 Als sie ihn aber mit den Riemen ausspannten, sprach Paulus zu dem Hauptmann, der dastand: Ist es euch erlaubt, einen Menschen, der ein Römer ist, und zwar unverurteilt, zu geißeln?
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!”
26 Als es aber der Hauptmann hörte, ging er hin und meldete dem Obersten und sprach: was hast du vor zu tun? Denn dieser Mensch ist ein Römer.
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]”
27 Der Oberste aber kam herzu und sprach zu ihm: Sage mir, bist du ein Römer? Er aber sprach: Ja.
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].”
28 Und der Oberste antwortete: Ich habe um eine große Summe dieses Bürgerrecht erworben. Paulus aber sprach: Ich aber bin sogar darin geboren.
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].”
29 Alsbald nun standen von ihm ab, die ihn ausforschen sollten; aber auch der Oberste fürchtete sich, als er erfuhr, daß er ein Römer sei, und weil er ihn gebunden hatte.
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].
30 Des folgenden Tages aber, da er mit Gewißheit erfahren wollte, weshalb er von den Juden angeklagt sei, machte er ihn los und befahl, daß die Hohenpriester und das ganze Synedrium zusammenkommen sollten; und er führte Paulus hinab und stellte ihn vor sie.
[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.
