Acts 21:37-22:21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Paul Defends Himself
37 Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” The tribune[a] replied, “Do you know Greek? 38 Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”(A) 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; I beg you, let me speak to the people.”(B) 40 When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people for silence, and when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew[b] language, saying:(C)
22 “Brothers[c] and fathers, listen to the defense that I now make before you.”(D)
2 When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew,[d] they became even more quiet. Then he said:(E)
3 “I am a Jew born in Tarsus in Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today.(F) 4 I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison,(G) 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.(H)
Paul Tells of His Conversion
6 “While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.(I) 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Then he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth[e] whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.(J) 10 I asked, ‘What am I to do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told everything that has been assigned to you to do.’(K) 11 Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand and led me to Damascus.(L)
12 “A certain Ananias, who was a devout man according to the law and well spoken of by all the Jews living there,(M) 13 came to me, and standing beside me, he said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ In that very hour I regained my sight and saw him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear his own voice,(N) 15 for you will be his witness to all the world of what you have seen and heard.(O) 16 And now why do you delay? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.’(P)
Paul Sent to the Gentiles
17 “After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance(Q) 18 and saw Jesus[f] saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.(R) 20 And while the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing by, approving and keeping the coats of those who killed him.’(S) 21 Then he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the gentiles.’ ”(T)
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
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
