Acts 21:37-22:21

Modern English Version

Paul Defends Himself

³⁷ As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?”

He replied, “Do you know how to speak Greek? ³⁸ Are you not the Egyptian who in past days caused an uproar and led the four thousand men of the Sicarii^[a] out into the wilderness?”

³⁹ Paul said, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of no common city. I beg of you, permit me to speak to the people.”

⁴⁰ When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was great silence, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying,

22 “Brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now make to you.”

² When they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet.

Then he said, ³ “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was trained in the strict tradition of the law of the fathers, being zealous toward God as you all are today. ⁴ I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and imprisoning both men and women, ⁵ as even the high priest and the council of elders bear witness of me. From them I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, where I went to take even those who were there and lead them in chains to Jerusalem to be punished.

Paul Tells of His Conversion^(A)

⁶ “As I journeyed and came near Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. ⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’

⁸ “I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’

“He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ ⁹ Those who were with me saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who was speaking to me.

¹⁰ “I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’

“The Lord said to me, ‘Rise and go into Damascus. There you will be told what you have been appointed to do.’ ¹¹ Since I was blinded by the glory of that light, those who were with me led me by the hand into Damascus.

¹² “Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who was well spoken of by all the Jews living there, ¹³ came and stood by me, and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that moment I looked up at him.

¹⁴ “Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Just One and to hear His voice, ¹⁵ for you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why do you wait? Rise, be baptized and wash away your sins, and call on the name of the Lord.’

Paul Sent to the Gentiles

¹⁷ “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance ¹⁸ and saw Him saying to me, ‘Hurry! Get out of Jerusalem immediately, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’

¹⁹ “I said, ‘Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You in every synagogue. ²⁰ And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I was standing by consenting to his death, guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’

²¹ “Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”