Acts 21:37-22:21
English Standard Version
Paul Speaks to the People
37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not (A)the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out (B)into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, (C)“I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, (D)motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in (E)the Hebrew language,[a] saying:
22 (F)“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”
2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in (G)the Hebrew language,[b] they became even more quiet. And he said:
3 (H)“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated (I)at the feet of (J)Gamaliel[c] (K)according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, (L)being zealous for God (M)as all of you are this day. 4 (N)I persecuted (O)this Way (P)to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as (Q)the high priest and (R)the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to (S)the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 (T)“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am (U)Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 (V)Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand[d] the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, (W)‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
12 “And (X)one Ananias, a devout man (Y)according to the law, (Z)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 (AA)came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And (AB)at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, (AC)‘The God of our fathers (AD)appointed you to know his will, (AE)to see (AF)the Righteous One and (AG)to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for (AH)you will be a witness for him to everyone of what (AI)you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? (AJ)Rise and be baptized and (AK)wash away your sins, (AL)calling on his name.’
17 (AM)“When I had returned to Jerusalem and (AN)was praying in the temple, I fell into (AO)a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, (AP)‘Make haste 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 one synagogue after another (AQ)I imprisoned and (AR)beat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen (AS)your witness was being shed, (AT)I myself was standing by and (AU)approving and (AV)watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you (AW)far away to the Gentiles.’”
Footnotes
- Acts 21:40 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)
- Acts 22:2 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)
- Acts 22:3 Or city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated
- Acts 22:9 Or hear with understanding
Acts 21:37-22:21
New Living Translation
Paul Speaks to the Crowd
37 As Paul was about to be taken inside, he said to the commander, “May I have a word with you?”
“Do you know Greek?” the commander asked, surprised. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who led a rebellion some time ago and took 4,000 members of the Assassins out into the desert?”
39 “No,” Paul replied, “I am a Jew and a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, which is an important city. Please, let me talk to these people.” 40 The commander agreed, so Paul stood on the stairs and motioned to the people to be quiet. Soon a deep silence enveloped the crowd, and he addressed them in their own language, Aramaic.[a]
22 “Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said, “listen to me as I offer my defense.” 2 When they heard him speaking in their own language,[b] the silence was even greater.
3 Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. 4 And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. 5 The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers of the Way from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished.
6 “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene,[c] the one you are persecuting.’ 9 The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.
10 “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’
“And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’
11 “I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions. 12 A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus. 13 He came and stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him!
14 “Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. 15 For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. 16 What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’
17 “After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance. 18 I saw a vision of Jesus[d] saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’
19 “‘But Lord,’ I argued, ‘they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’
21 “But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
