22 “各位父老兄弟,请听我解释!” 在场的人听见保罗讲的是希伯来话,更加安静了。保罗说: “我是犹太人,生于基利迦的大数,在耶路撒冷长大,曾在迦玛列门下严格地按着我们祖先的律法接受教育,像你们今日一样热心事奉上帝。 我曾经把信奉这道的男女信徒抓进监狱,迫害他们,置他们于死地。 大祭司和众长老都可以为我作证。我还拿着他们写给大马士革的犹太人的信去拘捕那里的信徒,押回耶路撒冷受刑。

“当我快到大马士革的时候,大约中午时分,突然从天上有一道强光四面照着我。 我就扑倒在地,听见有声音对我说,‘扫罗!扫罗!你为什么迫害我?’ 我回答说,‘主啊,你是谁?’他说,‘我就是你迫害的拿撒勒人耶稣!’ 我的同伴虽然也看见那道强光,却听不懂那位说话者的声音。 10 接着我又问,‘主啊!我该怎么办?’主说,‘起来,到大马士革去,那里会有人将指派给你的事告诉你。’

11 “那道耀眼的光照得我双眼失明,于是同行的人拉着我的手,带我进了大马士革。 12 那里有一个严守律法的虔诚人名叫亚拿尼亚,深受当地所有犹太人的尊敬。 13 他来探望我,站在我身边说,‘扫罗弟兄,重见光明吧!’就在那一刻,我抬头看见了他。 14 他又说,‘我们祖先的上帝拣选了你,要你明白祂的旨意,又让你亲自看见那位公义者、听到祂的声音。 15 因为你将做祂的见证人,把所见所闻告诉万民。 16 现在你还等什么呢?起来求告祂的名,接受洗礼,洗净你的罪。’

17 “后来,我回到耶路撒冷,在圣殿里祷告的时候,进入异象, 18 看见主对我说,‘赶快离开耶路撒冷,因为这里的人不会接受你为我做的见证。’ 19 我说,‘主啊!他们都知道我从前搜遍各会堂,逮捕、毒打信你的人。 20 当你的见证人司提凡为你流血殉道时,我自己也站在旁边赞同杀他的人,还替他们保管衣服。’ 21 主却对我说,‘去吧!我要差遣你到遥远的外族人那里。’”

因罗马公民身份而免刑

22 众人一听到这里,就高喊:“从世上除掉这样的人!他不配活着!” 23 百姓咆哮着脱掉外衣,扬起尘土。 24 千夫长下令把保罗押回营房,预备鞭打拷问他,要查出众人向他咆哮的缘由。 25 他们把保罗绑起来正要鞭打,保罗问旁边的百夫长:“未经定罪就拷打罗马公民合法吗?”

26 百夫长一听,立刻去禀告千夫长说:“你看该怎么办?这人是罗马公民。”

27 千夫长就来问保罗:“告诉我,你是罗马公民吗?”

保罗说:“是的。”

28 千夫长说:“我花了很多钱才当上罗马公民!”

保罗说:“我生来就是。”

29 那些准备拷问保罗的士兵立刻退下了。千夫长也害怕起来,因为发现保罗是罗马公民,他却下令捆绑了保罗。

保罗在公会申辩

30 第二天,千夫长想知道保罗被犹太人指控的真相,就为保罗松了绑,并招聚了祭司长和全公会的人,然后将保罗带来,让他站在众人面前。

Paul’s Defense at Jerusalem

22 “Brethren(A) and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” And when they heard that he spoke to them in the (B)Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.

Then he said: (C)“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city (D)at the feet of (E)Gamaliel, taught (F)according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and (G)was zealous toward God (H)as you all are today. (I)I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, as also the high priest bears me witness, and (J)all the council of the elders, (K)from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus (L)to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

“Now (M)it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

“And (N)those who were with me indeed saw the light [a]and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. 10 So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

12 “Then (O)a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, (P)having a good testimony with all the (Q)Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14 Then he said, (R)‘The God of our fathers (S)has chosen you that you should (T)know His will, and (U)see the Just One, (V)and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 (W)For you will be His witness to all men of (X)what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, (Y)and wash away your sins, (Z)calling on the name of the Lord.’

17 “Now (AA)it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance 18 and (AB)saw Him saying to me, (AC)‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ 19 So I said, ‘Lord, (AD)they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and (AE)beat those who believe on You. 20 (AF)And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by (AG)consenting [b]to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then He said to me, ‘Depart, (AH)for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’

Paul’s Roman Citizenship

22 And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, (AI)“Away with such a fellow from the earth, for (AJ)he is not fit to live!” 23 Then, as they cried out and [c]tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him. 25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, (AK)“Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”

26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.”

27 Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?”

He said, “Yes.”

28 The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.”

And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.

29 Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

The Sanhedrin Divided

30 The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 22:9 NU omits and were afraid
  2. Acts 22:20 NU omits to his death
  3. Acts 22:23 Lit. threw

22 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye the account which I now give unto you.

(And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept the more silence.)

And he saith: I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the truth of the law of the fathers, zealous for the law, as also all you are this day:

Who persecuted this way unto death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

As the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the ancients: from whom also receiving letters to the brethren, I went to Damascus, that I might bring them bound from thence to Jerusalem to be punished.

And it came to pass, as I was going, and drawing nigh to Damascus at midday, that suddenly from heaven there shone round about me a great light:

And falling on the ground, I heard a voice saying to me: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And I answered: Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me: I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

And they that were with me, saw indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke with me.

10 And I said: What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me: Arise, and go to Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things that thou must do.

11 And whereas I did not see for the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by my companions, I came to Damascus.

12 And one Ananias, a man according to the law, having testimony of all the Jews who dwelt there,

13 Coming to me, and standing by me, said to me: Brother Saul, look up. And I the same hour looked upon him.

14 But he said: The God of our fathers hath preordained thee that thou shouldst know his will, and see the Just One, and shouldst hear the voice from his mouth.

15 For thou shalt be his witness to all men, of those things which thou hast seen and heard.

16 And now why tarriest thou? Rise up, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, invoking his name.

17 And it came to pass, when I was come again to Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance,

18 And saw him saying unto me: Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

19 And I said: Lord, they know that I cast into prison, and beat in every synagogue, them that believed in thee.

20 And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I stood by and consented, and kept the garments of them that killed him.

21 And he said to me: Go, for unto the Gentiles afar off, will I send thee.

22 And they heard him until this word, and then lifted up their voice, saying: Away with such an one from the earth; for it is not fit that he should live.

23 And as they cried out and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,

24 The tribune commanded him to be brought into the castle, and that he should be scourged and tortured: to know for what cause they did so cry out against him.

25 And when they had bound him with thongs, Paul saith to the centurion that stood by him: Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

26 Which the centurion hearing, went to the tribune, and told him, saying: What art thou about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.

27 And the tribune coming, said to him: Tell me, art thou a Roman? But he said: Yea.

28 And the tribune answered: I obtained the being free of this city with a great sum. And Paul said: But I was born so.

29 Immediately therefore they departed from him that were about to torture him. The tribune also was afraid after he understood that he was a Roman citizen, and because he had bound him.

30 But on the next day, meaning to know more diligently for what cause he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the priests to come together, and all the council: and bringing forth Paul, he set him before them.

22 “诸位父老弟兄,请听我现在对你们的申辩。” 他们听保罗说的是希伯来话,就更加安静了。 保罗说:“我原是犹太人,生在基利家大数,但在这城里长大,在迦玛列门下按着我们祖宗严紧的律法受教,热心事奉 神,就如你们大家今日一样。 我也曾迫害信奉这道路的人,置他们于死地,无论男女都捆绑,关在监里。 这是大祭司和议会的众长老都可以给我作证的。我又从他们那里领了致弟兄们的书信,往大马士革去,要把在那里的信徒绑起来,带到耶路撒冷受刑。”

保罗叙述归主的经过

“当我走近大马士革的时候,约在中午,忽然有一道大光从天上下来,照射在我周围。 我就仆倒在地,听见有声音对我说:‘扫罗扫罗!你为什么迫害我?’ 我回答:‘主啊!你是谁?’他对我说:‘我就是你所迫害的拿撒勒人耶稣。’ 跟我一起的人看见了那光,却没有听见那位对我说话的声音。 10 我说:‘主啊,我该做什么?’主说:‘起来,进大马士革去,在那里有人会把指派你做的一切事告诉你。’ 11 我因那光的闪耀不能看见,跟我一起的人就拉着我的手进了大马士革

12 “那里有一个人,名叫亚拿尼亚,按着律法是虔诚人,为所有住在那里的犹太人所称赞。 13 他来见我,站在旁边,对我说:‘扫罗弟兄,你看见吧!’就在那时,我恢复视觉,看见了他。 14 他又说:‘我们祖宗的 神拣选了你,让你明白他的旨意,又看见那义者,听见他口中所出的声音。 15 因为你要将所看见的、所听见的,对着万人作他的见证人。 16 现在你为什么耽延呢?起来,受洗,求告他的名,洗去你的罪。’”

保罗奉召向外邦人传道

17 “后来,我回到耶路撒冷,在圣殿里祷告的时候,魂游象外, 18 看见主对我说:‘你赶紧离开耶路撒冷,越快越好,因为这里的人不接受你为我作的见证。’ 19 我就说:‘主啊,他们都知道,我从前在各会堂里把信你的人监禁,又鞭打他们。 20 当你的见证人司提反被害流血的时候,我也站在一旁赞同;又为打死他的人看守衣裳。’ 21 主对我说:‘你去吧!我要差你到远方外邦人那里去。’”

保罗与长官交涉

22 众人听他说到这句话,就高声说:“这样的人,从地上除掉他吧!他是该死的。” 23 大家一边喧嚷一边摔衣裳,向空中撒灰尘。 24 千夫长下令把保罗带进营楼,叫人用鞭子拷问他,要知道他们向他这样喧嚷是什么缘故。 25 他们刚用皮条把他捆上的时候,保罗对站在旁边的百夫长说:“一个罗马人,又未被定罪,你们就鞭打他是合法的吗?” 26 百夫长听见这话,就去见千夫长,报告说:“你要怎么办呢?这个人是罗马人。” 27 千夫长就来问保罗:“你告诉我,你是罗马人吗?”保罗说:“是。” 28 千夫长回答:“我用了许多银子才得到罗马公民的身份。”保罗说:“我生来就是。” 29 于是那些要拷问保罗的人立刻离开他走了。千夫长一知道他是罗马人,又因为曾捆绑了他,也害怕起来。

保罗在议会前申诉

30 第二天,千夫长为要知道犹太人控告保罗的实情,就解开他,下令祭司长们和全议会的人都聚集,然后将保罗带下来,叫他站在他们面前。