Actuum Apostolorum 22
1 Viri fratres, et patres, audite quam ad vos nunc reddo rationem.
Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.
2 Cum audissent autem quia hebræa lingua loqueretur ad illos, magis præstiterunt silentium.
And when they heard that he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: and he saith,
3 Et dicit: Ego sum vir Judæus, natus in Tarso Ciliciæ, nutritus autem in ista civitate, secus pedes Gamaliel eruditus juxta veritatem paternæ legis, æmulator legis, sicut et vos omnes estis hodie:
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:
4 qui hanc viam persecutus sum usque ad mortem, alligans et tradens in custodias viros ac mulieres,
and I persecuted this Way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5 sicut princeps sacerdotum mihi testimonium reddit, et omnes majores natu: a quibus et epistolas accipiens, ad fratres Damascum pergebam, ut adducerem inde vinctos in Jerusalem ut punirentur.
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.
6 Factum est autem, eunte me, et appropinquante Damasco media die, subito de cælo circumfulsit me lux copiosa:
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.
7 et decidens in terram, audivi vocem dicentem mihi: Saule, Saule, quid me persequeris?
And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8 Ego autem respondi: Quis es, domine? Dixitque ad me: Ego sum Jesus Nazarenus, quem tu persequeris.
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9 Et qui mecum erant, lumen quidem viderunt, vocem autem non audierunt ejus qui loquebatur mecum.
And they that were with me beheld indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
10 Et dixi: Quid faciam, domine? Dominus autem dixit ad me: Surgens vade Damascum: et ibi tibi dicetur de omnibus quæ te oporteat facere.
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.
11 Et cum non viderem præ claritate luminis illius, ad manum deductus a comitibus, veni Damascum.
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.
12 Ananias autem quidam vir secundum legem, testimonium habens ab omnibus cohabitantibus Judæis,
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there,
13 veniens ad me et astans, dixit mihi: Saule frater, respice. Et ego eadem hora respexi in eum.
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.
14 At ille dixit: Deus patrum nostrorum præordinavit te, ut cognosceres voluntatem ejus, et videres justum, et audires vocem ex ore ejus:
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.
15 quia eris testis illius ad omnes homines eorum quæ vidisti et audisti.
For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16 Et nunc quid moraris? Exsurge, et baptizare, et ablue peccata tua, invocato nomine ipsius.
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.
17 Factum est autem revertenti mihi in Jerusalem, et oranti in templo, fieri me in stupore mentis,
And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,
18 et videre illum dicentem mihi: Festina, et exi velociter ex Jerusalem: quoniam non recipient testimonium tuum de me.
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.
19 Et ego dixi: Domine, ipsi sciunt quia ego eram concludens in carcerem, et cædens per synagogas eos qui credebant in te:
And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
20 et cum funderetur sanguis Stephani testis tui, ego astabam, et consentiebam, et custodiebam vestimenta interficientium illum.
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.
21 Et dixit ad me: Vade, quoniam ego in nationes longe mittam te.
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles.
22 Audiebant autem eum usque ad hoc verbum, et levaverunt vocem suam, dicentes: Tolle de terra hujusmodi: non enim fas est eum vivere.
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.
23 Vociferantibus autem eis, et projicientibus vestimenta sua, et pulverem jactantibus in aërem,
And as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,
24 jussit tribunus induci eum in castra, et flagellis cædi, et torqueri eum, ut sciret propter quam causam sic acclamarent ei.
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.
25 Et cum astrinxissent eum loris, dicit astanti sibi centurioni Paulus: Si hominem Romanum et indemnatum licet vobis flagellare?
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?
26 Quo audito, centurio accessit ad tribunum, et nuntiavit ei, dicens: Quid acturus es? hic enim homo civis Romanus est.
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.
27 Accedens autem tribunus, dixit illi: Dic mihi si tu Romanus es? At ille dixit: Etiam.
And the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said, Yea.
28 Et respondit tribunus: Ego multa summa civilitatem hanc consecutus sum. Et Paulus ait: Ego autem et natus sum.
And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I am [a Roman] born.
29 Protinus ergo discesserunt ab illo qui eum torturi erant. Tribunus quoque timuit postquam rescivit, quia civis Romanus esset, et quia alligasset eum.
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.
30 Postera autem die volens scire diligentius qua ex causa accusaretur a Judæis, solvit eum, et jussit sacerdotes convenire, et omne concilium: et producens Paulum, statuit inter illos.
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.
