Acts 21:37-22:21

New King James Version

Addressing the Jerusalem Mob^(A)

³⁷ Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?”

He replied, “Can you speak Greek? ^38 (B)Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”

³⁹ But Paul said, ^(C)“I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no ^[a]mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”

⁴⁰ So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and ^(D)motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the ^(E)Hebrew language, saying,

Paul’s Defense at Jerusalem

22 “Brethren^(F) and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” ² And when they heard that he spoke to them in the ^(G)Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.

Then he said: ^3 (H)“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city ^(I)at the feet of ^(J)Gamaliel, taught ^(K)according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and ^(L)was zealous toward God ^(M)as you all are today. ^4 (N)I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, ⁵ as also the high priest bears me witness, and ^(O)all the council of the elders, ^(P)from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus ^(Q)to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

⁶ “Now ^(R)it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven 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 So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

⁹ “And ^(S)those who were with me indeed saw the light ^[b]and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. ¹⁰ So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’ ¹¹ And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

¹² “Then ^(T)a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, ^(U)having a good testimony with all the ^(V)Jews who dwelt there, ¹³ came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. ¹⁴ Then he said, ^(W)‘The God of our fathers ^(X)has chosen you that you should ^(Y)know His will, and ^(Z)see the Just One, ^(AA)and hear the voice of His mouth. ^15 (AB)For you will be His witness to all men of ^(AC)what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, ^(AD)and wash away your sins, ^(AE)calling on the name of the Lord.’

¹⁷ “Now ^(AF)it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance ¹⁸ and ^(AG)saw Him saying to me, ^(AH)‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ ¹⁹ So I said, ‘Lord, ^(AI)they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and ^(AJ)beat those who believe on You. ^20 (AK)And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by ^(AL)consenting ^[c]to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ ²¹ Then He said to me, ‘Depart, ^(AM)for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”