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, “Do you know Greek? 38 Aren’t you the Egyptian who raised a rebellion some time ago and led 4,000 Assassins[a][b] into the wilderness?”(A)

39 Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus of Cilicia,(B) a citizen of an important city.[c] 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 the Hebrew language:(C) 22 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” When they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even quieter.(D) He(E) continued, “I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city[d] at the feet of Gamaliel(F) and educated according to the strict view of our patriarchal law. Being zealous for God, just as all of you are today,(G) I persecuted this Way(H) to the death, binding and putting both men and women in jail,(I) 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 bring those who were prisoners there to be punished in Jerusalem.(J)

Paul’s Testimony

“As(K) I was traveling and near Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’

“I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’

“He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the One you are persecuting!’ Now those who were with me saw the light,[e] but they did not hear the voice of the One who was speaking to me.(L)

10 “Then I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’

“And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that is assigned for you to do.’

11 “Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.(M) 12 Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good reputation with all the Jews residing 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 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed(O) you to know His will, to see(P) the Righteous One,(Q) and to hear the sound of His voice.[f] 15 For you will be a witness for Him to all people of what you have seen and heard.(R) 16 And now, why delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins(S) by calling on His name.’(T)

17 “After I came back to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple complex, I went into a visionary state(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 was standing by and approving,[g] and I guarded the clothes of those who killed him.’(W)

21 “Then He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’(X)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 21:38 Lit 4,000 men of the Assassins
  2. Acts 21:38 In Lat, the word Sicarii is similar to the Eng word “cut-throats.”
  3. Acts 21:39 Lit of no insignificant city
  4. Acts 22:3 Probably Jerusalem, but others think Tarsus
  5. Acts 22:9 Other mss add and were afraid
  6. Acts 22:14 Lit to hear a voice from His mouth
  7. Acts 22:20 Other mss add of his murder

37 As he was about mellō to be brought eisagō into eis the ho barracks parembolē, · ho Paul Paulos said legō to the ho commanding chiliarchos officer , “Is it allowed for me egō to say legō something tis to pros you sy?” He ho · de replied phēmi, “ Do you know ginōskō Greek Hellēnisti? 38 Then ara you sy are eimi not ou the ho Egyptian Aigyptios who ho prior pro to these houtos · ho days hēmera stirred anastatoō up a revolt and kai led exagō into eis the ho desert erēmos the ho four tetrakischilioi thousand men anēr of the ho Assassins sikarios?” 39 But de Paul Paulos replied legō, · ho I egō am eimi a Jew Ioudaios, from Tarsus Tarseus in ho Cilicia Kilikia, a citizen politēs of no ou obscure asēmos city polis. I beg deomai · de you sy, allow epitrepō me egō to speak laleō to pros the ho people laos.” 40 And de when he autos had given epitrepō him permission , · ho Paul Paulos stood histēmi on epi the ho steps anabathmos and motioned kataseiō with his ho hand cheir to the ho people laos. And de when there was ginomai a great polys hush sigē, he addressed prosphōneō them in the ho Hebrew Hebrais language dialektos, saying legō:

22  My brothers anēr and kai fathers patēr, listen akouō now nyni to me egō · ho as I make my defense apologia to pros you hymeis.” And de when they heard akouō that hoti he was addressing prosphōneō them autos in the ho Hebrew Hebrais language dialektos, they became parechō even more mallon quiet hēsychia. And kai he said phēmi: I egō am eimi a Jewish Ioudaios man anēr, born gennaō in en Tarsus Tarsos of ho Cilicia Kilikia, but de brought anatrephō up in en · ho this houtos city polis at para the ho feet pous of Gamaliel Gamaliēl, educated paideuō according kata to the strictness akribeia of the ho ancestral patrōos law nomos, being hyparchō zealous zēlōtēs for ho God theos just kathōs as you hymeis all pas are eimi today sēmeron. I persecuted diōkō the followers of this houtos · ho Way hodos even to achri their death thanatos, putting desmeuō in chains both te men anēr and kai women gynē and kai delivering paradidōmi them to eis prison phylakē, as hōs also kai the ho high archiereus priest and kai the whole pas · ho council of elders presbyterion can bear martyreō me egō witness martyreō. From para them hos · kai I received dechomai letters epistolē to pros the ho brothers adelphos, and I went poreuō toward eis Damascus Damaskos to take agō those ho also kai who were eimi there ekeise and bring deō them in bonds to eis Jerusalem Ierousalēm to hina be punished timōreō. · de As I egō journeyed poreuō and kai came engizō near to ho Damascus Damaskos, about peri noon mesēmbria suddenly exaiphnēs out ek of · ho heaven ouranos flashed periastraptō a brilliant hikanos light phōs all around peri me egō. I fell piptō to eis the ho ground edaphos and kai heard akouō a voice phōnē saying legō to me egō, ‘ Saul Saoul, Saul Saoul, why tis are you persecuting diōkō me egō?’ And de I egō answered apokrinomai, ‘ Who tis are eimi you , Lord kyrios?’ And te he said legō to pros me egō, ‘ I egō am eimi Jesus Iēsous of ho Nazareth Nazōraios, whom hos you sy are persecuting diōkō.’ Now de those ho who were eimi with syn me egō saw theaomai the ho light phōs but de did akouō not ou understand akouō the ho voice phōnē of the ho one who was speaking laleō to me egō. 10 And de I said legō, ‘ What tis shall I do poieō, Lord kyrios?’ And de the ho Lord kyrios said legō to pros me egō, ‘ Get anistēmi up and go poreuō on into eis Damascus Damaskos, and there kakei it will be told laleō you sy about peri all pas that hos has been assigned tassō to you sy to do poieō.’ 11 Since hōs · de I could not ou see emblepō due apo to the ho brilliance doxa of ho that ekeinos light phōs, being led cheiragōgeō by the hand by hypo those ho who were with syneimi me egō, I went erchomai to eis Damascus Damaskos.

12  Then de a certain tis Ananias Hananias, a devout eulabēs man anēr according kata to the ho law nomos, well martyreō spoken of by hypo all pas the ho Jews Ioudaios who lived katoikeō there, 13 came erchomai to pros me egō, and kai standing ephistēmi there said legō to me egō, ‘ Brother adelphos Saul Saoul, recover anablepō your sight .’ And kagō at that ho very autos hour hōra I recovered my sight and saw anablepō eis him autos. 14 And de he ho said legō, ‘ The ho God theos of ho our hēmeis fathers patēr has chosen procheirizō you sy to know ginōskō · ho his autos will thelēma, · kai to see the ho Righteous dikaios One and kai to hear akouō a voice phōnē from ek · ho his autos mouth stoma. 15 For hoti you will be eimi a witness martys for him autos to pros everyone pas anthrōpos of what hos you have seen horaō and kai heard akouō. 16 And kai now nyn why tis are you waiting mellō? Rise anistēmi and be baptized baptizō and kai wash apolouō away · ho your sy sins hamartia, calling epikaleō on · ho his autos name onoma.’ 17 · de When I egō had returned hypostrephō to eis Jerusalem Ierousalēm and kai I egō was praying proseuchomai in en the ho temple hieron, I egō fell ginomai into en a trance ekstasis 18 and kai I saw him autos saying legō to me egō, ‘ Make speudō haste and kai get exerchomai out of ek Jerusalem Ierousalēm quickly en tachos, because dioti they will not ou accept paradechomai your sy testimony martyria about peri me egō.’ 19 And kagō I said legō, ‘ Lord kyrios, they themselves autos know epistamai that hoti I egō used eimi to go from one synagogue to another kata imprisoning phylakizō and kai flogging derō · ho those ho who believed pisteuō in epi you sy. 20 And kai when hote the ho blood haima of Stephen Stephanos, · ho your sy witness martys, was being shed ekchunnomai, · kai I myself autos was eimi standing ephistēmi by · kai approving syneudokeō and kai guarding phylassō the ho cloaks himation of those ho who were killing anaireō him autos.’ 21 And kai he said legō to pros me egō, ‘ Go poreuō, for hoti I egō will send exapostellō you sy far away makran to eis the Gentiles ethnos.’”