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.’ ”
Footnotes
- Acts 21:39 insignificant
- Acts 22:9 NU omits and were afraid
- Acts 22:20 NU omits to his death
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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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