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22 Hommes frères et pères, écoutez ce que j'ai maintenant à vous dire pour ma défense!

Lorsqu'ils entendirent qu'il leur parlait en langue hébraïque, ils redoublèrent de silence. Et Paul dit:

je suis Juif, né à Tarse en Cilicie; mais j'ai été élevé dans cette ville-ci, et instruit aux pieds de Gamaliel dans la connaissance exacte de la loi de nos pères, étant plein de zèle pour Dieu, comme vous l'êtes tous aujourd'hui.

J'ai persécuté à mort cette doctrine, liant et mettant en prison hommes et femmes.

Le souverain sacrificateur et tout le collège des anciens m'en sont témoins. J'ai même reçu d'eux des lettres pour les frères de Damas, où je me rendis afin d'amener liés à Jérusalem ceux qui se trouvaient là et de les faire punir.

Comme j'étais en chemin, et que j'approchais de Damas, tout à coup, vers midi, une grande lumière venant du ciel resplendit autour de moi.

Je tombai par terre, et j'entendis une voix qui me disait: Saul, Saul, pourquoi me persécutes-tu?

Je répondis: Qui es-tu, Seigneur? Et il me dit: Je suis Jésus de Nazareth, que tu persécutes.

Ceux qui étaient avec moi virent bien la lumière, mais ils n'entendirent pas la voix de celui qui parlait. Alors je dis: Que ferai-je, Seigneur?

10 Et le Seigneur me dit: Lève-toi, va à Damas, et là on te dira tout ce que tu dois faire.

11 Comme je ne voyais rien, à cause de l'éclat de cette lumière, ceux qui étaient avec moi me prirent par la main, et j'arrivai à Damas.

12 Or, un nommé Ananias, homme pieux selon la loi, et de qui tous les Juifs demeurant à Damas rendaient un bon témoignage, vint se présenter à moi,

13 et me dit: Saul, mon frère, recouvre la vue. Au même instant, je recouvrai la vue et je le regardai.

14 Il dit: Le Dieu de nos pères t'a destiné à connaître sa volonté, à voir le Juste, et à entendre les paroles de sa bouche;

15 car tu lui serviras de témoin, auprès de tous les hommes, des choses que tu as vues et entendues.

16 Et maintenant, que tardes-tu? Lève-toi, sois baptisé, et lavé de tes péchés, en invoquant le nom du Seigneur.

17 De retour à Jérusalem, comme je priais dans le temple, je fus ravi en extase,

18 et je vis le Seigneur qui me disait: Hâte-toi, et sors promptement de Jérusalem, parce qu'ils ne recevront pas ton témoignage sur moi.

19 Et je dis: Seigneur, ils savent eux-mêmes que je faisais mettre en prison et battre de verges dans les synagogues ceux qui croyaient en toi, et que,

20 lorsqu'on répandit le sang d'Étienne, ton témoin, j'étais moi-même présent, joignant mon approbation à celle des autres, et gardant les vêtements de ceux qui le faisaient mourir.

21 Alors il me dit: Va, je t'enverrai au loin vers les nations...

22 Ils l'écoutèrent jusqu'à cette parole. Mais alors ils élevèrent la voix, disant: Ote de la terre un pareil homme! Il n'est pas digne de vivre.

23 Et ils poussaient des cris, jetaient leurs vêtements, lançaient de la poussière en l'air.

24 Le tribun commanda de faire entrer Paul dans la forteresse, et de lui donner la question par le fouet, afin de savoir pour quel motif ils criaient ainsi contre lui.

25 Lorsqu'on l'eut exposé au fouet, Paul dit au centenier qui était présent: Vous est-il permis de battre de verges un citoyen romain, qui n'est pas même condamné?

26 A ces mots, le centenier alla vers le tribun pour l'avertir, disant: Que vas-tu faire? Cet homme est Romain.

27 Et le tribun, étant venu, dit à Paul: Dis-moi, es-tu Romain? Oui, répondit-il.

28 Le tribun reprit: C'est avec beaucoup d'argent que j'ai acquis ce droit de citoyen. Et moi, dit Paul, je l'ai par ma naissance.

29 Aussitôt ceux qui devaient lui donner la question se retirèrent, et le tribun, voyant que Paul était Romain, fut dans la crainte parce qu'il l'avait fait lier.

30 Le lendemain, voulant savoir avec certitude de quoi les Juifs l'accusaient, le tribun lui fit ôter ses liens, et donna l'ordre aux principaux sacrificateurs et à tout le sanhédrin de se réunir; puis, faisant descendre Paul, il le plaça au milieu d'eux.

22 (A)Men, brothers, and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”

And when they heard that he was addressing them in the (B)Hebrew language, they became even quieter; and he *said,

(C)I am (D)a Jew, born in (E)Tarsus of (F)Cilicia, but having been brought up in this city, having been instructed at the feet of (G)Gamaliel according to the (H)strictness of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as (I)you all are today, (J)I persecuted this (K)Way to the death, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons, as also (L)the high priest and all (M)the Council of the elders [a]can testify. From them I also (N)received letters to (O)the brothers, and started off for (P)Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem [b]as prisoners to be punished.

(Q)But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am (R)Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ And those who were with me (S)beheld the light, to be sure, but (T)did not [c]understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘(U)What should I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been determined for you to do.’ 11 But since I (V)could not see because of the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

12 “Now a certain (W)Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and (X)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing near, said to me, ‘(Y)Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ And [d](Z)at that very hour I regained my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘(AA)The God of our fathers has (AB)appointed you to know His will and to (AC)see the (AD)Righteous One and to hear a [e]voice from His mouth. 15 For you will be (AE)a witness for Him to all men of (AF)what you have seen and heard. 16 Now why do you delay? (AG)Rise up and be baptized, and (AH)wash away your sins, (AI)calling on His name.’

17 “Now it happened when I (AJ)returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I (AK)fell into a trance, 18 and I saw Him saying to me, (AL)Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your witness about Me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another (AM)I used to imprison and (AN)beat those who believed in You. 20 And (AO)when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and guarding the garments of those who were slaying him.’ 21 And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away (AP)to the Gentiles.’

Paul, a Citizen of Rome

22 And they were listening to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “(AQ)Away with such a fellow from the earth, for (AR)he should not be allowed to live!” 23 And as they were crying out and (AS)throwing off their garments and (AT)tossing dust into the air, 24 the [f]commander ordered him to be brought into (AU)the barracks, stating that he should be (AV)examined by flogging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way. 25 But when they stretched him out [g]with leather straps, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it [h]lawful for you to flog (AW)a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?” 26 And when the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported to him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.” 27 And the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 And the commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I have been born a citizen.” 29 Therefore those who were about to (AX)examine him immediately withdrew from him; and the commander also (AY)was afraid when he learned that he was a Roman, and because he had (AZ)bound him.

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

30 But on the next day, (BA)wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he (BB)released him and ordered the chief priests and all (BC)the Sanhedrin to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 22:5 Lit testifies for me
  2. Acts 22:5 Lit having been bound
  3. Acts 22:9 Or hear (with comprehension)
  4. Acts 22:13 Or instantly
  5. Acts 22:14 Or message
  6. Acts 22:24 Military leader over 1,000 soldiers
  7. Acts 22:25 Or for the whip
  8. Acts 22:25 Interrogation by torture was a procedure used with slaves

22 ‘Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defence.’

When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.

Then Paul said: ‘I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

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

‘“Who are you, Lord?” I asked.

“I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice 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.” 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.

12 ‘A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 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 has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”

17 ‘When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 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 and beat those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr[a] Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.”

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

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! He’s not fit to live!’

23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed 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?’

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 withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realised that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.

Paul before the Sanhedrin

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

Footnotes

  1. Acts 22:20 Or witness

22 “Brothers and fathers,(A) listen now to my defense.”

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

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

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

“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.

‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,(Q) whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. My companions saw the light,(R) but they did not understand the voice(S) 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.’(T) 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.(U)

12 “A man named Ananias came to see me.(V) He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.(W) 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(X) has chosen you to know his will and to see(Y) the Righteous One(Z) and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness(AA) to all people of what you have seen(AB) and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized(AC) and wash your sins away,(AD) calling on his name.’(AE)

17 “When I returned to Jerusalem(AF) and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance(AG) 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(AH) and beat(AI) those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr[a] Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’(AJ)

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

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!(AL) He’s not fit to live!”(AM)

23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks(AN) and flinging dust into the air,(AO) 24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.(AP) He directed(AQ) 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?”(AR)

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(AS) withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen,(AT) in chains.(AU)

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

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

Footnotes

  1. Acts 22:20 Or witness