11 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 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

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

19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

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

24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.

25 And as they bound him with 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 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.

27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

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11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.(A)

12 “A man named Ananias came to see me.(B) He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.(C) 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(D) has chosen you to know his will and to see(E) the Righteous One(F) and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness(G) to all people of what you have seen(H) and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized(I) and wash your sins away,(J) calling on his name.’(K)

17 “When I returned to Jerusalem(L) and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance(M) 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(N) and beat(O) 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.’(P)

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

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!(R) He’s not fit to live!”(S)

23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks(T) and flinging dust into the air,(U) 24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.(V) He directed(W) 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?”(X)

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(Y) withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen,(Z) in chains.(AA)

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

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

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 22:20 Or witness

46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

47 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.

For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

48 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.

They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.

Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.

Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.

As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.

We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.

10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.

11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.

13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.

14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

49 Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 46[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.

God is our refuge(A) and strength,(B)
    an ever-present(C) help(D) in trouble.(E)
Therefore we will not fear,(F) though the earth give way(G)
    and the mountains fall(H) into the heart of the sea,(I)
though its waters roar(J) and foam(K)
    and the mountains quake(L) with their surging.[c]

There is a river(M) whose streams(N) make glad the city of God,(O)
    the holy place where the Most High(P) dwells.(Q)
God is within her,(R) she will not fall;(S)
    God will help(T) her at break of day.
Nations(U) are in uproar,(V) kingdoms(W) fall;
    he lifts his voice,(X) the earth melts.(Y)

The Lord Almighty(Z) is with us;(AA)
    the God of Jacob(AB) is our fortress.(AC)

Come and see what the Lord has done,(AD)
    the desolations(AE) he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars(AF) cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow(AG) and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields[d] with fire.(AH)
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;(AI)
    I will be exalted(AJ) among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob(AK) is our fortress.(AL)

Psalm 47[e]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Clap your hands,(AM) all you nations;
    shout to God with cries of joy.(AN)

For the Lord Most High(AO) is awesome,(AP)
    the great King(AQ) over all the earth.
He subdued(AR) nations under us,
    peoples under our feet.
He chose our inheritance(AS) for us,
    the pride of Jacob,(AT) whom he loved.[f]

God has ascended(AU) amid shouts of joy,(AV)
    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.(AW)
Sing praises(AX) to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;(AY)
    sing to him a psalm(AZ) of praise.

God reigns(BA) over the nations;
    God is seated on his holy throne.(BB)
The nobles of the nations assemble
    as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings[g] of the earth belong to God;(BC)
    he is greatly exalted.(BD)

Psalm 48[h]

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Great is the Lord,(BE) and most worthy of praise,(BF)
    in the city of our God,(BG) his holy mountain.(BH)

Beautiful(BI) in its loftiness,
    the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon[i](BJ) is Mount Zion,(BK)
    the city of the Great King.(BL)
God is in her citadels;(BM)
    he has shown himself to be her fortress.(BN)

When the kings joined forces,
    when they advanced together,(BO)
they saw her and were astounded;
    they fled in terror.(BP)
Trembling seized(BQ) them there,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.(BR)
You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish(BS)
    shattered by an east wind.(BT)

As we have heard,
    so we have seen
in the city of the Lord Almighty,
    in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
    forever.[j](BU)

Within your temple, O God,
    we meditate(BV) on your unfailing love.(BW)
10 Like your name,(BX) O God,
    your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;(BY)
    your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices,
    the villages of Judah are glad
    because of your judgments.(BZ)

12 Walk about Zion, go around her,
    count her towers,(CA)
13 consider well her ramparts,(CB)
    view her citadels,(CC)
that you may tell of them
    to the next generation.(CD)

14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
    he will be our guide(CE) even to the end.

Psalm 49[k]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Hear(CF) this, all you peoples;(CG)
    listen, all who live in this world,(CH)
both low and high,(CI)
    rich and poor alike:
My mouth will speak words of wisdom;(CJ)
    the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.(CK)
I will turn my ear to a proverb;(CL)
    with the harp(CM) I will expound my riddle:(CN)

Why should I fear(CO) when evil days come,
    when wicked deceivers surround me—
those who trust in their wealth(CP)
    and boast(CQ) of their great riches?(CR)
No one can redeem the life of another
    or give to God a ransom for them—
the ransom(CS) for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough—(CT)
so that they should live on(CU) forever
    and not see decay.(CV)
10 For all can see that the wise die,(CW)
    that the foolish and the senseless(CX) also perish,
    leaving their wealth(CY) to others.(CZ)
11 Their tombs(DA) will remain their houses[l] forever,
    their dwellings for endless generations,(DB)
    though they had[m] named(DC) lands after themselves.

12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;(DD)
    they are like the beasts that perish.(DE)

13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,(DF)
    and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[n]
14 They are like sheep and are destined(DG) to die;(DH)
    death will be their shepherd
    (but the upright will prevail(DI) over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
    far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;(DJ)
    he will surely take me to himself.(DK)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing(DL) with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.(DM)
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—(DN)
    and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,(DO)
    who will never again see the light(DP) of life.

20 People who have wealth but lack understanding(DQ)
    are like the beasts that perish.(DR)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
  2. Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.
  4. Psalm 46:9 Or chariots
  5. Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
  6. Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  7. Psalm 47:9 Or shields
  8. Psalm 48:1 In Hebrew texts 48:1-14 is numbered 48:2-15.
  9. Psalm 48:2 Zaphon was the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites.
  10. Psalm 48:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  11. Psalm 49:1 In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.
  12. Psalm 49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain
  13. Psalm 49:11 Or generations, / for they have
  14. Psalm 49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.