Paul’s Defense Before the Jews

³⁷ As Paul was about to be brought into ^(A)the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he *said, “Do you know Greek? ³⁸ Then you are not ^(B)the Egyptian who some ^[a]time ago raised a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out ^(C)into the wilderness?” ³⁹ But Paul said, “^(D)I am a Jew of Tarsus in ^(E)Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.” ⁴⁰ And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on ^(F)the stairs, ^(G)motioned to the people with his hand; and when there ^[b]was a great hush, he spoke to them in the ^(H)Hebrew language, saying,

22 “^(I)Men, brothers, and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”

² And when they heard that he was addressing them in the ^(J)Hebrew language, they became even quieter; and he *said,

³ “^(K)I am ^(L)a Jew, born in ^(M)Tarsus of ^(N)Cilicia, but having been brought up in this city, having been instructed at the feet of ^(O)Gamaliel according to the ^(P)strictness of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as ^(Q)you all are today, ^4 (R)I persecuted this ^(S)Way to the death, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons, ⁵ as also ^(T)the high priest and all ^(U)the Council of the elders ^[c]can testify. From them I also ^(V)received letters to ^(W)the brothers, and started off for ^(X)Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem ^[d]as prisoners to be punished.

⁶ “^(Y)But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all 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 ^(Z)Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ ⁹ And those who were with me ^(AA)beheld the light, to be sure, but ^(AB)did not ^[e]understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. ¹⁰ And I said, ‘^(AC)What should I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been determined for you to do.’ ¹¹ But since I ^(AD)could not see because of the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

¹² “Now a certain ^(AE)Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and ^(AF)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, ¹³ came to me, and standing near, said to me, ‘^(AG)Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ And ^[f](AH)at that very hour I regained my sight and saw him. ¹⁴ And he said, ‘^(AI)The God of our fathers has ^(AJ)appointed you to know His will and to ^(AK)see the ^(AL)Righteous One and to hear a ^[g]voice from His mouth. ¹⁵ For you will be ^(AM)a witness for Him to all men of ^(AN)what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ Now why do you delay? ^(AO)Rise up and be baptized, and ^(AP)wash away your sins, ^(AQ)calling on His name.’

¹⁷ “Now it happened when I ^(AR)returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I ^(AS)fell into a trance, ¹⁸ and I saw Him saying to me, ‘^(AT)Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your witness about Me.’ ¹⁹ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another ^(AU)I used to imprison and ^(AV)beat those who believed in You. ²⁰ And ^(AW)when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and guarding the garments of those who were slaying him.’ ²¹ And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away ^(AX)to the Gentiles.’”