Acts 21:37-22:21
New American Standard Bible
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 stirred up 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 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 silence, he spoke to them in the [c](H)Hebrew dialect, saying,
Paul’s Defense before the Jews
22 “(I)[d]Brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”
2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the [e](J)Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he *said,
3 “(K)I am (L)a Jew, born in (M)Tarsus of (N)Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated [f]under (O)Gamaliel, [g](P)strictly according to 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 putting both men and women into prisons, 5 as also (T)the high priest and all (U)the Council of the elders [h]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 [i]as prisoners to be punished.
6 “(Y)But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus at about noon, 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)saw the light, but (AB)did not [j]understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘(AC)What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that has been appointed for you to do.’ 11 But since I (AD)could not see because of the [k]brightness of that light, I came into Damascus being led by the hand by those who were with me.
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 nearby he said to me, ‘(AG)Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And [l](AH)at that very moment I looked up at 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 [m]message from His mouth. 15 For you will be (AM)a witness for Him to all people of (AN)what you have seen and heard. 16 Now why do you delay? (AO)Get up and be baptized, and (AP)wash away your sins by (AQ)calling on His name.’
17 “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 testimony 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 nearby and approving, and watching over the cloaks of those who were killing him.’ 21 And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away (AX)to the Gentiles.’”
Footnotes
- Acts 21:38 Lit days
- Acts 21:40 Lit occurred
- Acts 21:40 I.e., Jewish Aramaic
- Acts 22:1 Lit Men, brothers
- Acts 22:2 I.e., Jewish Aramaic
- Acts 22:3 Lit at the feet of
- Acts 22:3 Lit according to the strictness of the ancestral law
- Acts 22:5 Lit testifies for me
- Acts 22:5 Lit having been bound
- Acts 22:9 Or hear (with comprehension)
- Acts 22:11 Lit glory
- Acts 22:13 Or instantly; lit at the very hour
- Acts 22:14 Lit voice
Acts 21:37-22:21
American Standard Version
37 And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he saith unto the [a]chief captain, May I say something unto thee? And he said, Dost thou know Greek? 38 Art thou not then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins? 39 But Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, give me leave to speak unto the people. 40 And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with the hand unto the people; and when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, saying,
22 Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.
2 And when they heard that he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: and he saith,
3 I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as ye all are this day: 4 and I persecuted this Way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and journeyed to Damascus to bring them also that were there unto Jerusalem in bonds to be punished. 6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and drew nigh unto Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. 7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9 And they that were with me beheld indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me I came into Damascus. 12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there, 13 came unto me, and standing by me said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I [b]looked up on him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name. 17 And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance, 18 and saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not receive of thee testimony concerning me. 19 And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: 20 and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that slew him. 21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles.
Footnotes
- Acts 21:37 Or, military tribune. Greek chiliarch.
- Acts 22:13 Or, received my sight and looked upon him.
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