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Acts 22
Expanded Bible
Acts 22
Expanded Bible
Paul Speaks to the People
22 Paul said, “[L Men,] Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense to you.” 2 When they heard him ·speaking [addressing them in] the Hebrew [or Aramaic; 21:40] language, they became ·very [even more] quiet. Paul said, 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus [9:11] in the ·country [province] of Cilicia [6:9], but I ·grew up [was brought up; or was educated] in this city [C Jerusalem]. I was ·a student of [L instructed at the feet of; C idiom indicating the role of a disciple] Gamaliel [C a famous teacher of the Pharisees; 5:34], who ·carefully [or strictly] taught me everything about the law of our ·ancestors [forefathers; fathers]. I was ·very serious about serving [L zealous/passionate for] God, just as are all of you here today. 4 I persecuted the people who followed ·the Way of Jesus [L this Way; C another name for the Christian movement; 9:2; 18:25; 19:23], ·and some of them were even killed [L up to the point of death; 7:60]. I ·arrested [L bound] men and women and put them in jail. 5 The high priest and the whole council of elders can ·tell you this is true [testify about me]. They gave me letters to the brothers [C their fellow Jewish leaders] in Damascus. So I was going there to ·arrest [L bind] these people and bring them back to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 “About noon when I came near Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly ·flashed [shone] all around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ ·The voice [L He] said, ‘I am Jesus ·of Nazareth [or the Nazarene] whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Those who were with me did not ·understand [or hear; C the word can mean either “hear” or “understand,” but 9:7 suggests the latter] the voice [L that was speaking to me], but they saw the light. 10 I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord answered, ‘Get up and go to Damascus. There you will be told about all the things ·I have planned [or assigned; appointed] for you to do.’ 11 I could not see, because ·the bright light had made me blind [L of the glory/brilliance of that light]. So ·my companions [L those with me] led me [L by the hand] into Damascus.
12 “There a man named Ananias came to me. He was a ·religious [devout; God-fearing] man; ·he obeyed the law of Moses [L …according to the law], and all the Jews who lived there ·respected [spoke well of] him. 13 He [L came to me and] stood by me and said, ‘Brother Saul, ·see again [L look up; C an idiom for regaining sight]!’ ·Immediately [L At that hour] I ·was able to see [L looked up at] him. 14 He said, ‘The God of our ·ancestors [forefathers; fathers] ·chose [appointed] you long ago to know his ·plan [will; purpose], to see the Righteous One [C Jesus], and to hear ·words [a divine message; L a voice] from ·him [L his mouth]. 15 You will be his witness to all people, telling them about what you have seen and heard. 16 Now, ·why wait any longer [what are you waiting for]? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, ·trusting in him to save you [L calling on his name].’
17 “Later, when I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple, and I ·saw a vision [or fell into a trance]. 18 I saw ·the Lord [L him] saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem ·now [or quickly]! The people here will not accept ·the truth [L your testimony/witness] about me.’ 19 But I said, ‘Lord, they [L themselves; very well] know that in every synagogue I put ·the believers [L those who believe in you] in jail and beat them. 20 They also know I was there when Stephen, your ·witness [or martyr], ·was killed [L had his blood shed]. I [myself; indeed] stood there agreeing and ·holding [guarding; keeping] the coats of those who were killing him!’ 21 But the Lord said to me, ‘·Leave now [Go!]. I will send you far away to the ·other nations [Gentiles].’”
22 ·The crowd [L They] listened to ·Paul [him] until he said ·this [L this word]. Then they ·began shouting [L raised their voice saying], “·Get rid of him [Kill him; L Remove this one from the earth]! He doesn’t deserve to live!” 23 They ·shouted [yelled; screamed], threw off their coats, and threw dust into the air [C demonstrations of anger and disgust].
24 Then the ·commander [tribune] ordered the soldiers to take ·Paul [L him] into the ·army building [barracks] and ·beat him [L question him by whipping/flogging]. ·He wanted [L …in order] to make Paul tell why the people were shouting against him like this [C flogging was commonly used to gain information]. 25 But as the soldiers were ·tying him up [or stretching him out (on the posts)], preparing to ·beat [whip; flog] him, Paul said to an officer nearby, “Do you have the right to ·beat [whip; flog] a Roman citizen who ·has not been proven guilty [L is uncondemned; C this was against Roman law]?”
26 When the ·officer [L centurion; 21:32] heard this, he went to the ·commander [tribune] and reported it. The officer said, “·Do you know what you are doing [or What are you about to do]? This man is a Roman citizen.”
27 The ·commander [tribune] came to ·Paul [L him] and said, “Tell me, are you really a Roman citizen?”
He answered, “Yes.”
28 The ·commander [tribune] ·said [L responded], “I paid a lot of money to become a Roman citizen.”
But Paul said, “I was born a citizen.”
29 [L Therefore] The men who were preparing to question Paul ·moved away from him [withdrew] immediately. The ·commander [tribune] was frightened because he had already ·tied [bound] ·Paul [L him], and Paul was a Roman citizen.
Paul Speaks to the Jewish Council
30 The next day ·the commander [L he] ·decided [desired] to learn [with certainty; the true reason] why the Jews were accusing ·Paul [L him]. So he ordered the ·leading [T chief] priests and the ·council [Sanhedrin; C Jewish high court comprised of 70 Jewish leaders; 4:15] to meet. ·The commander [L He] ·took Paul’s chains off [L released him]. Then he brought Paul out and stood him before their meeting.
Hechos 22
Nueva Biblia Viva
Hechos 22
Nueva Biblia Viva
22 «Padres y hermanos, escuchen lo que tengo que decir en mi defensa». 2 Al oír que les hablaba en arameo, guardaron más silencio. Entonces Pablo continuó:
3 «Yo soy judío. Nací en Tarso de Cilicia, pero me crie en esta ciudad. Gamaliel fue mi maestro y él me enseñó la ley de nuestros antepasados. Me esforcé porque se honrara a Dios como lo hace cualquiera de ustedes hoy día. 4 Antes, perseguía hasta la muerte a los seguidores de este Camino, los arrestaba y los metía en la cárcel sin importarme si eran hombres o mujeres. 5 El jefe de los sacerdotes y todo el Consejo de ancianos son testigos de que así fue. Ellos mismos me dieron cartas para nuestros hermanos judíos en Damasco, y fui allá para traer a Jerusalén a los que encontrara, para que aquí los castigaran.
6 »Pero cuando iba en camino y ya me acercaba a Damasco, como a eso del mediodía, de repente una intensa luz del cielo relampagueó a mi alrededor. 7 Caí al suelo y escuché una voz que me decía: “Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues?”. 8 Yo pregunté: “¿Quién eres, Señor?”.
»Él me contestó: “Yo soy Jesús de Nazaret, al que tú persigues”.
9 »Los que me acompañaban vieron la luz, pero no oyeron la voz que me hablaba. 10 Le pregunté: “¿Qué debo hacer, Señor?”.
»El Señor dijo: “Levántate, y entra en Damasco. Allí te dirán todo lo que tienes que hacer”.
11 »Mis compañeros me llevaron de la mano hasta Damasco, porque la intensa luz me había dejado ciego. 12 Allí, vino a verme un hombre llamado Ananías, que obedecía la ley y a quien respetaban los judíos de Damasco. 13 Él se puso a mi lado y me dijo: “Hermano Saulo, ¡recibe la vista!”. Y en aquel mismo instante recobré la vista y pude verlo. 14 Luego me dijo: “El Dios de nuestros antepasados te ha escogido para que conozcas sus planes, y veas al Justo y oigas las palabras de su boca. 15 Tú serás su testigo ante todo el mundo de lo que has visto y oído. 16 No hay tiempo que perder. Levántate, bautízate, y lávate de tus pecados invocando su nombre”.
17 »Cuando regresé a Jerusalén, en el templo tuve una visión mientras oraba. 18 Vi al Señor que me decía: “¡Date prisa! Sal en este momento de Jerusalén, porque no creerán lo que digas acerca de mí”. 19 Yo le respondí: “Señor, ellos saben que yo andaba por todas las sinagogas encarcelando y azotando a los que creían en ti. 20 Y cuando estaban matando a Esteban, tu testigo, yo estaba allí aprobando lo que hacían y cuidando la ropa de quienes lo mataban”. 21 Pero el Señor me dijo: “Vete, porque yo te enviaré a naciones que están lejos” ».
Pablo el ciudadano romano
22 La gente estuvo escuchando a Pablo hasta que dijo esto. Entonces gritaron: «¡Bórralo de la tierra! ¡Ese hombre no merece vivir!».
23 La gente seguía gritando, tirando sus ropas y arrojaba polvo al aire.
24 Entonces el comandante ordenó que metieran a Pablo en el cuartel y que le dieran latigazos. Quería saber por qué gritaban así contra él.
25 Pero cuando lo estaban sujetando con cadenas para azotarlo, Pablo le dijo al capitán de los soldados que estaba allí: —¿La ley les permite a ustedes azotar a un ciudadano romano antes de que lo juzguen?
26 El capitán fue y le avisó al comandante.
―¿Qué va a hacer usted? Este hombre es ciudadano romano.
27 El comandante fue adonde estaba Pablo y le preguntó:
―Dime, ¿es verdad que eres ciudadano romano?
Pablo contestó: —Sí, lo soy.
28 El comandante le dijo: —Yo pagué muchísimo dinero para hacerme ciudadano romano.
Pablo respondió: —Pues yo lo soy desde que nací.
29 Los soldados que iban a azotarlo, al oír que Pablo era ciudadano romano, se apartaron de él. El comandante mismo tuvo miedo de haberlo encadenado.
Pablo ante el Consejo
30 Al día siguiente, el comandante ordenó que desataran a Pablo y se reuniera con los jefes de los sacerdotes y con el Consejo en pleno. Él quería saber exactamente de qué acusaban a Pablo los judíos, así que lo llevó para que compareciera ante ellos.
Acts 22
New International Version
Acts 22
New International Version
22 1 “Brothers and fathers,(A) listen now to my defense.”
2 When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic,(B) they became very quiet.
Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew,(C) born in Tarsus(D) of Cilicia,(E) but brought up in this city. I studied under(F) Gamaliel(G) and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors.(H) I was just as zealous(I) for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted(J) the followers of this Way(K) to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,(L) 5 as the high priest and all the Council(M) can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates(N) in Damascus,(O) and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.(P) 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
8 “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,(Q) whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 9 My companions saw the light,(R) but they did not understand the voice(S) of him who was speaking to me.
10 “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.
“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’(T) 11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.(U)
12 “A man named Ananias came to see me.(V) He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.(W) 13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.
14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors(X) has chosen you to know his will and to see(Y) the Righteous One(Z) and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness(AA) to all people of what you have seen(AB) and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized(AC) and wash your sins away,(AD) calling on his name.’(AE)
17 “When I returned to Jerusalem(AF) and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance(AG) 18 and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’
19 “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison(AH) and beat(AI) those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr[a] Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’(AJ)
21 “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”(AK)
Paul the Roman Citizen
22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him!(AL) He’s not fit to live!”(AM)
23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks(AN) and flinging dust into the air,(AO) 24 the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.(AP) He directed(AQ) that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”(AR)
26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”
“Yes, I am,” he answered.
28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.”
“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.
29 Those who were about to interrogate him(AS) withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen,(AT) in chains.(AU)
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
30 The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews.(AV) So the next day he released him(AW) and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin(AX) to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.
Footnotes
- Acts 22:20 Or witness
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