Acts 21:37-22:21
Christian Standard Bible
Paul’s Defense before the Jerusalem Mob
37 As he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, “Am I allowed to say something to you?”
He replied, “You know how to speak Greek? 38 Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago and led four thousand men of the Assassins into the wilderness?” (A)
39 Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus of Cilicia,(B) a citizen of an important city. Now I ask you, let me speak to the people.”
40 After he had given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great hush, he addressed them in Aramaic:[a](C)
22 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” 2 When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic,[b] they became even quieter.(D) 3 He(E) continued, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel(F) according to the strictness of our ancestral law. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.(G) 4 I persecuted this Way(H) to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail,(I) 5 as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to arrest those who were there and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.(J)
Paul’s Testimony
6 “As(K) I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 “I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light,[c] but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.(L)
10 “I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’
“The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do.’
11 “Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of the light,[d] I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went into Damascus.(M) 12 Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good reputation with all the Jews living there,(N) 13 came and stood by me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And in that very hour I looked up and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed(O) you to know his will, to see(P) the Righteous One,(Q) and to hear the words from his mouth, 15 since you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard.(R) 16 And now, why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins,(S) calling on his name.’(T)
17 “After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance(U) 18 and saw him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’
19 “But I said, ‘Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in you imprisoned and beaten.(V) 20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval[e] and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’(W)
21 “He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”(X)
Acts 21:37-22:21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Paul Defends Himself
37 Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” The tribune[a] replied, “Do you know Greek? 38 Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”(A) 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; I beg you, let me speak to the people.”(B) 40 When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people for silence, and when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew[b] language, saying:(C)
22 “Brothers[c] and fathers, listen to the defense that I now make before you.”(D)
2 When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew,[d] they became even more quiet. Then he said:(E)
3 “I am a Jew born in Tarsus in Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today.(F) 4 I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison,(G) 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.(H)
Paul Tells of His Conversion
6 “While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.(I) 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Then he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth[e] whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.(J) 10 I asked, ‘What am I to do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told everything that has been assigned to you to do.’(K) 11 Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand and led me to Damascus.(L)
12 “A certain Ananias, who was a devout man according to the law and well spoken of by all the Jews living there,(M) 13 came to me, and standing beside me, he said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ In that very hour I regained my sight and saw him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear his own voice,(N) 15 for you will be his witness to all the world of what you have seen and heard.(O) 16 And now why do you delay? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.’(P)
Paul Sent to the Gentiles
17 “After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance(Q) 18 and saw Jesus[f] saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.(R) 20 And while the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing by, approving and keeping the coats of those who killed him.’(S) 21 Then he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the gentiles.’ ”(T)
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.