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Hechos 21:37-23:35
Reina-Valera 1960

Defensa de Pablo ante el pueblo

37 Cuando comenzaron a meter a Pablo en la fortaleza, dijo al tribuno: ¿Se me permite decirte algo? Y él dijo: ¿Sabes griego? 38 ¿No eres tú aquel egipcio que levantó una sedición antes de estos días, y sacó al desierto los cuatro mil sicarios? 39 Entonces dijo Pablo: Yo de cierto soy hombre judío de Tarso, ciudadano de una ciudad no insignificante de Cilicia; pero te ruego que me permitas hablar al pueblo. 40 Y cuando él se lo permitió, Pablo, estando en pie en las gradas, hizo señal con la mano al pueblo. Y hecho gran silencio, habló en lengua hebrea, diciendo:

22 Varones hermanos y padres, oíd ahora mi defensa ante vosotros.

2 Y al oír que les hablaba en lengua hebrea, guardaron más silencio. Y él les dijo:

3 Yo de cierto soy judío, nacido en Tarso de Cilicia, pero criado en esta ciudad, instruido a los pies de Gamaliel,(A) estrictamente conforme a la ley de nuestros padres, celoso de Dios, como hoy lo sois todos vosotros. 4 Perseguía yo este Camino hasta la muerte, prendiendo y entregando en cárceles a hombres y mujeres; 5 como el sumo sacerdote también me es testigo, y todos los ancianos, de quienes también recibí cartas para los hermanos, y fui a Damasco para traer presos a Jerusalén también a los que estuviesen allí, para que fuesen castigados.(B)

Pablo relata su conversión

(Hch. 9.1-19; 26.12-18)

6 Pero aconteció que yendo yo, al llegar cerca de Damasco, como a mediodía, de repente me rodeó mucha luz del cielo; 7 y caí al suelo, y oí una voz que me decía: Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues? 8 Yo entonces respondí: ¿Quién eres, Señor? Y me dijo: Yo soy Jesús de Nazaret, a quien tú persigues. 9 Y los que estaban conmigo vieron a la verdad la luz, y se espantaron; pero no entendieron la voz del que hablaba conmigo. 10 Y dije: ¿Qué haré, Señor? Y el Señor me dijo: Levántate, y ve a Damasco, y allí se te dirá todo lo que está ordenado que hagas. 11 Y como yo no veía a causa de la gloria de la luz, llevado de la mano por los que estaban conmigo, llegué a Damasco.

12 Entonces uno llamado Ananías, varón piadoso según la ley, que tenía buen testimonio de todos los judíos que allí moraban, 13 vino a mí, y acercándose, me dijo: Hermano Saulo, recibe la vista. Y yo en aquella misma hora recobré la vista y lo miré. 14 Y él dijo: El Dios de nuestros padres te ha escogido para que conozcas su voluntad, y veas al Justo, y oigas la voz de su boca. 15 Porque serás testigo suyo a todos los hombres, de lo que has visto y oído. 16 Ahora, pues, ¿por qué te detienes? Levántate y bautízate, y lava tus pecados, invocando su nombre.

Pablo es enviado a los gentiles

17 Y me aconteció, vuelto a Jerusalén, que orando en el templo me sobrevino un éxtasis. 18 Y le vi que me decía: Date prisa, y sal prontamente de Jerusalén; porque no recibirán tu testimonio acerca de mí. 19 Yo dije: Señor, ellos saben que yo encarcelaba y azotaba en todas las sinagogas a los que creían en ti; 20 y cuando se derramaba la sangre de Esteban tu testigo, yo mismo también estaba presente, y consentía en su muerte, y guardaba las ropas de los que le mataban.(C) 21 Pero me dijo: Ve, porque yo te enviaré lejos a los gentiles.

Pablo en manos del tribuno

22 Y le oyeron hasta esta palabra; entonces alzaron la voz, diciendo: Quita de la tierra a tal hombre, porque no conviene que viva. 23 Y como ellos gritaban y arrojaban sus ropas y lanzaban polvo al aire, 24 mandó el tribuno que le metiesen en la fortaleza, y ordenó que fuese examinado con azotes, para saber por qué causa clamaban así contra él. 25 Pero cuando le ataron con correas, Pablo dijo al centurión que estaba presente: ¿Os es lícito azotar a un ciudadano romano sin haber sido condenado? 26 Cuando el centurión oyó esto, fue y dio aviso al tribuno, diciendo: ¿Qué vas a hacer? Porque este hombre es ciudadano romano. 27 Vino el tribuno y le dijo: Dime, ¿eres tú ciudadano romano? Él dijo: Sí. 28 Respondió el tribuno: Yo con una gran suma adquirí esta ciudadanía. Entonces Pablo dijo: Pero yo lo soy de nacimiento. 29 Así que, luego se apartaron de él los que le iban a dar tormento; y aun el tribuno, al saber que era ciudadano romano, también tuvo temor por haberle atado.

Pablo ante el concilio

30 Al día siguiente, queriendo saber de cierto la causa por la cual le acusaban los judíos, le soltó de las cadenas, y mandó venir a los principales sacerdotes y a todo el concilio, y sacando a Pablo, le presentó ante ellos.

23 Entonces Pablo, mirando fijamente al concilio, dijo: Varones hermanos, yo con toda buena conciencia he vivido delante de Dios hasta el día de hoy. 2 El sumo sacerdote Ananías ordenó entonces a los que estaban junto a él, que le golpeasen en la boca. 3 Entonces Pablo le dijo: ¡Dios te golpeará a ti, pared blanqueada!(D) ¿Estás tú sentado para juzgarme conforme a la ley, y quebrantando la ley me mandas golpear? 4 Los que estaban presentes dijeron: ¿Al sumo sacerdote de Dios injurias? 5 Pablo dijo: No sabía, hermanos, que era el sumo sacerdote; pues escrito está: No maldecirás a un príncipe de tu pueblo.(E)

6 Entonces Pablo, notando que una parte era de saduceos y otra de fariseos, alzó la voz en el concilio: Varones hermanos, yo soy fariseo,(F) hijo de fariseo; acerca de la esperanza y de la resurrección de los muertos se me juzga. 7 Cuando dijo esto, se produjo disensión entre los fariseos y los saduceos, y la asamblea se dividió. 8 Porque los saduceos dicen que no hay resurrección,(G) ni ángel, ni espíritu; pero los fariseos afirman estas cosas. 9 Y hubo un gran vocerío; y levantándose los escribas de la parte de los fariseos, contendían, diciendo: Ningún mal hallamos en este hombre; que si un espíritu le ha hablado, o un ángel, no resistamos a Dios. 10 Y habiendo grande disensión, el tribuno, teniendo temor de que Pablo fuese despedazado por ellos, mandó que bajasen soldados y le arrebatasen de en medio de ellos, y le llevasen a la fortaleza.

11 A la noche siguiente se le presentó el Señor y le dijo: Ten ánimo, Pablo, pues como has testificado de mí en Jerusalén, así es necesario que testifiques también en Roma.

Complot contra Pablo

12 Venido el día, algunos de los judíos tramaron un complot y se juramentaron bajo maldición, diciendo que no comerían ni beberían hasta que hubiesen dado muerte a Pablo. 13 Eran más de cuarenta los que habían hecho esta conjuración, 14 los cuales fueron a los principales sacerdotes y a los ancianos y dijeron: Nosotros nos hemos juramentado bajo maldición, a no gustar nada hasta que hayamos dado muerte a Pablo. 15 Ahora pues, vosotros, con el concilio, requerid al tribuno que le traiga mañana ante vosotros, como que queréis indagar alguna cosa más cierta acerca de él; y nosotros estaremos listos para matarle antes que llegue.

16 Mas el hijo de la hermana de Pablo, oyendo hablar de la celada, fue y entró en la fortaleza, y dio aviso a Pablo. 17 Pablo, llamando a uno de los centuriones, dijo: Lleva a este joven ante el tribuno, porque tiene cierto aviso que darle. 18 Él entonces tomándole, le llevó al tribuno, y dijo: El preso Pablo me llamó y me rogó que trajese ante ti a este joven, que tiene algo que hablarte. 19 El tribuno, tomándole de la mano y retirándose aparte, le preguntó: ¿Qué es lo que tienes que decirme? 20 Él le dijo: Los judíos han convenido en rogarte que mañana lleves a Pablo ante el concilio, como que van a inquirir alguna cosa más cierta acerca de él. 21 Pero tú no les creas; porque más de cuarenta hombres de ellos le acechan, los cuales se han juramentado bajo maldición, a no comer ni beber hasta que le hayan dado muerte; y ahora están listos esperando tu promesa. 22 Entonces el tribuno despidió al joven, mandándole que a nadie dijese que le había dado aviso de esto.

Pablo es enviado a Félix el gobernador

23 Y llamando a dos centuriones, mandó que preparasen para la hora tercera de la noche doscientos soldados, setenta jinetes y doscientos lanceros, para que fuesen hasta Cesarea; 24 y que preparasen cabalgaduras en que poniendo a Pablo, le llevasen en salvo a Félix el gobernador. 25 Y escribió una carta en estos términos:

26 Claudio Lisias al excelentísimo gobernador Félix: Salud. 27 A este hombre, aprehendido por los judíos, y que iban ellos a matar, lo libré yo acudiendo con la tropa, habiendo sabido que era ciudadano romano. 28 Y queriendo saber la causa por qué le acusaban, le llevé al concilio de ellos; 29 y hallé que le acusaban por cuestiones de la ley de ellos, pero que ningún delito tenía digno de muerte o de prisión. 30 Pero al ser avisado de asechanzas que los judíos habían tendido contra este hombre, al punto le he enviado a ti, intimando también a los acusadores que traten delante de ti lo que tengan contra él. Pásalo bien.

31 Y los soldados, tomando a Pablo como se les ordenó, le llevaron de noche a Antípatris. 32 Y al día siguiente, dejando a los jinetes que fuesen con él, volvieron a la fortaleza. 33 Cuando aquellos llegaron a Cesarea, y dieron la carta al gobernador, presentaron también a Pablo delante de él. 34 Y el gobernador, leída la carta, preguntó de qué provincia era; y habiendo entendido que era de Cilicia, 35 le dijo: Te oiré cuando vengan tus acusadores. Y mandó que le custodiasen en el pretorio de Herodes.

Listen to Acts 21:37-23:35
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Acts 21:37-23:35
New American Standard Bible

37 As Paul was about to be brought into (A)the barracks, he *said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Then you are not (B)the Egyptian who some [a]time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out (C)into the wilderness?” 39 But Paul said, “(D)I am a Jew of Tarsus in (E)Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.” 40 When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on (F)the stairs, (G)motioned to the people with his hand; and when there [b]was a great silence, he spoke to them in the [c](H)Hebrew dialect, saying,

Paul’s Defense before the Jews

22 “(I)[d]Brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”

2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the [e](J)Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he *said,

3 “(K)I am (L)a Jew, born in (M)Tarsus of (N)Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated [f]under (O)Gamaliel, [g](P)strictly according to the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as (Q)you all are today. 4 (R)I persecuted this (S)Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, 5 as also (T)the high priest and all (U)the Council of the elders [h]can testify. From them I also (V)received letters to (W)the brothers, and started off for (X)Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem [i]as prisoners to be punished.

6 “(Y)But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus at about noon, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, 7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am (Z)Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 And those who were with me (AA)saw the light, but (AB)did not [j]understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘(AC)What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that has been appointed for you to do.’ 11 But since I (AD)could not see because of the [k]brightness of that light, I came into Damascus being led by the hand by those who were with me.

12 “Now a certain (AE)Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law and (AF)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing nearby he said to me, ‘(AG)Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And [l](AH)at that very moment I looked up at him. 14 And he said, ‘(AI)The God of our fathers has (AJ)appointed you to know His will and to (AK)see the (AL)Righteous One and to hear a [m]message from His mouth. 15 For you will be (AM)a witness for Him to all people of (AN)what you have seen and heard. 16 Now why do you delay? (AO)Get up and be baptized, and (AP)wash away your sins by (AQ)calling on His name.’

17 “It happened when I (AR)returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I (AS)fell into a trance, 18 and I saw Him saying to me, ‘(AT)Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another (AU)I used to imprison and (AV)beat those who believed in You. 20 And (AW)when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing nearby and approving, and watching over the cloaks of those who were killing him.’ 21 And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away (AX)to the Gentiles.’”

22 They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “(AY)Away with such a man from the earth, for (AZ)he should not be allowed to live!” 23 And as they were shouting and (BA)throwing off their cloaks and (BB)tossing dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered that he be brought into (BC)the barracks, saying that he was to be (BD)interrogated by flogging so that he would find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way. 25 But when they stretched him out [n]with straps, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it [o]lawful for you to flog (BE)a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.” 27 The commander came and said to [p]Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.” 29 Therefore, those who were about to (BF)interrogate him immediately backed away from him; and the commander also (BG)was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had [q](BH)put him in chains.

30 Now on the next day, (BI)wanting to know for certain why Paul had been accused by the Jews, he (BJ)released him and ordered the chief priests and all (BK)the [r]Council to assemble, and he brought Paul down and placed him before them.

Paul before the Council

23 Now looking intently at (BL)the [s]Council, Paul said, “[t](BM)Brothers, (BN)I have [u]lived my life with an entirely good conscience before God up to this day.” 2 But the high priest (BO)Ananias commanded those standing beside him (BP)to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, (BQ)you whitewashed wall! Do you (BR)sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law, order me to be struck?” 4 But those present said, “Are you insulting God’s high priest?” 5 And Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he is high priest; for it is written: ‘(BS)You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

6 But Paul, perceiving that one group were (BT)Sadducees and the other Pharisees, began crying out in (BU)the [v]Council, “[w](BV)Brothers, (BW)I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for (BX)the hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7 When he said this, a dissension occurred between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For (BY)the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 And a great uproar occurred; and some of (BZ)the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and started arguing heatedly, saying, “(CA)We find nothing wrong with this man; (CB)suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 And when a great dissension occurred, the commander was afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, and he ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into (CC)the barracks.

11 But on (CD)the following night, the Lord stood near him and said, “(CE)Be courageous! For (CF)as you have (CG)testified to the truth about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome also.”

A Conspiracy to Kill Paul

12 When it was day, (CH)the Jews formed a [x]conspiracy and (CI)put themselves under an [y]oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who formed this plot. 14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have (CJ)put ourselves under an [z]oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore, you [aa]and (CK)the [ab]Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly; and as for us, we are ready to kill him before he comes near the place.”

16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard about their ambush, [ac]and he came and entered (CL)the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions to himself and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him and led him to the commander and *said, “Paul (CM)the prisoner called me over to him and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 19 The commander took him by the hand, and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?” 20 And he said, “(CN)The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to (CO)the [ad]Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21 So do not [ae]listen to them, for more than forty [af]of them are (CP)in hiding to ambush him, and these men have (CQ)put themselves under an oath not to eat or drink until they kill him; and now they are ready and waiting for assurance from you.” 22 Then the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”

Paul Moved to Caesarea

23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by [ag]the third hour of the night to proceed to (CR)Caesarea, [ah]with seventy horsemen and two hundred [ai]spearmen.” 24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to (CS)Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter [aj]with the following content:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the (CT)most excellent governor Felix: (CU)Greetings.

27 When this man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, (CV)I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, (CW)after learning that he was a Roman. 28 And (CX)wanting to ascertain the basis for the charges they were bringing against him, I (CY)brought him down to their [ak](CZ)Council; 29 and I found that he was being accused regarding (DA)questions in their Law, but [al]was (DB)not charged with anything deserving death or [am]imprisonment.

30 When I was (DC)informed that there would be (DD)a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing (DE)his accusers to [an]bring charges against him before you.”

31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But on the next day they let (DF)the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to (DG)the barracks. 33 When these horsemen had come to (DH)Caesarea and delivered the letter to (DI)the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 Now when he had read it, he also asked from what (DJ)province Paul was, and when he learned that (DK)he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your (DL)accusers arrive as well,” giving orders for [ao]Paul to be (DM)kept in Herod’s [ap]Praetorium.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 21:38 Lit days
  2. Acts 21:40 Lit occurred
  3. Acts 21:40 I.e., Jewish Aramaic
  4. Acts 22:1 Lit Men, brothers
  5. Acts 22:2 I.e., Jewish Aramaic
  6. Acts 22:3 Lit at the feet of
  7. Acts 22:3 Lit according to the strictness of the ancestral law
  8. Acts 22:5 Lit testifies for me
  9. Acts 22:5 Lit having been bound
  10. Acts 22:9 Or hear (with comprehension)
  11. Acts 22:11 Lit glory
  12. Acts 22:13 Or instantly; lit at the very hour
  13. Acts 22:14 Lit voice
  14. Acts 22:25 Or for the whip
  15. Acts 22:25 Interrogation by torture was a procedure used with slaves
  16. Acts 22:27 Lit him
  17. Acts 22:29 Lit bound him
  18. Acts 22:30 Or Sanhedrin
  19. Acts 23:1 Or Sanhedrin
  20. Acts 23:1 Lit Men, brothers
  21. Acts 23:1 Or conducted myself as a citizen
  22. Acts 23:6 Or Sanhedrin
  23. Acts 23:6 Lit Men, brothers
  24. Acts 23:12 Or mob
  25. Acts 23:12 I.e., an oath with a self-imposed curse
  26. Acts 23:14 See note 2 v 12
  27. Acts 23:15 Lit with
  28. Acts 23:15 Or Sanhedrin
  29. Acts 23:16 Or having been present with them, and he also entered
  30. Acts 23:20 Or Sanhedrin
  31. Acts 23:21 Lit be persuaded by them
  32. Acts 23:21 Lit men of them
  33. Acts 23:23 I.e., 9 p.m.
  34. Acts 23:23 Lit and
  35. Acts 23:23 Or slingers; or bowmen
  36. Acts 23:25 Or to this effect
  37. Acts 23:28 Or Sanhedrin
  38. Acts 23:29 Lit had no charge of
  39. Acts 23:29 Lit bonds
  40. Acts 23:30 Lit speak against him
  41. Acts 23:35 Lit him
  42. Acts 23:35 I.e., governor’s official residence
Listen to Acts 21:37-23:35
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Acts 21:37-23:35
New International Version

Paul Speaks to the Crowd(A)

37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks,(B) he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness(C) some time ago?”(D)

39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus(E) in Cilicia,(F) a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

40 After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned(G) to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic[a]:(H) 22 1 “Brothers and fathers,(I) listen now to my defense.”

2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic,(J) they became very quiet.

Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew,(K) born in Tarsus(L) of Cilicia,(M) but brought up in this city. I studied under(N) Gamaliel(O) and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors.(P) I was just as zealous(Q) for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted(R) the followers of this Way(S) to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,(T) 5 as the high priest and all the Council(U) can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates(V) in Damascus,(W) and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.(X) 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’

8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.

“ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,(Y) whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light,(Z) but they did not understand the voice(AA) of him who was speaking to me.

10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.

“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’(AB) 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.(AC)

12 “A man named Ananias came to see me.(AD) He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.(AE) 13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.

14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors(AF) has chosen you to know his will and to see(AG) the Righteous One(AH) and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness(AI) to all people of what you have seen(AJ) and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized(AK) and wash your sins away,(AL) calling on his name.’(AM)

17 “When I returned to Jerusalem(AN) and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance(AO) 18 and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’

19 “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison(AP) and beat(AQ) those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr[b] Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’(AR)

21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”(AS)

Paul the Roman Citizen

22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him!(AT) He’s not fit to live!”(AU)

23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks(AV) and flinging dust into the air,(AW) 24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.(AX) He directed(AY) that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”(AZ)

26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered.

28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

29 Those who were about to interrogate him(BA) withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen,(BB) in chains.(BC)

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

30 The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews.(BD) So the next day he released him(BE) and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin(BF) to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.

23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin(BG) and said, “My brothers,(BH) I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience(BI) to this day.” 2 At this the high priest Ananias(BJ) ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.(BK) 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!(BL) You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”(BM)

4 Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”

5 Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’[c]”(BN)

6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees(BO) and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers,(BP) I am a Pharisee,(BQ) descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”(BR) 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,(BS) and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(BT) stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,”(BU) they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”(BV) 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.(BW)

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!(BX) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”(BY)

The Plot to Kill Paul

12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy(BZ) and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.(CA) 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.(CB) 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin(CC) petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks(CD) and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner,(CE) sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin(CF) tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.(CG) 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty(CH) of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him.(CI) They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen[d] to go to Caesarea(CJ) at nine tonight.(CK) 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”(CL)

25 He wrote a letter as follows:

26 Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency,(CM) Governor Felix:

Greetings.(CN)

27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him,(CO) but I came with my troops and rescued him,(CP) for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.(CQ) 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.(CR) 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law,(CS) but there was no charge against him(CT) that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed(CU) of a plot(CV) to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers(CW) to present to you their case against him.

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry(CX) go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.(CY) 33 When the cavalry(CZ) arrived in Caesarea,(DA) they delivered the letter to the governor(DB) and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,(DC) 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers(DD) get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard(DE) in Herod’s palace.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 21:40 Or possibly Hebrew; also in 22:2
  2. Acts 22:20 Or witness
  3. Acts 23:5 Exodus 22:28
  4. Acts 23:23 The meaning of the Greek for this word is uncertain.
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Hechos 20
Hechos 24
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