Acts 22

King James Version

22 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

²(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

³I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

⁴And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

⁵As 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 went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

⁶And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

⁷And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

⁸And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

⁹And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

¹⁰And 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.

¹¹And 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.

¹²And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

¹³Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

¹⁴And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

¹⁵For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

¹⁶And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

¹⁷And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

¹⁸And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

¹⁹And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

²⁰And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

²¹And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

²²And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

²³And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

²⁴The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.

²⁵And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

²⁶When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.

²⁷Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

²⁸And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

²⁹Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

³⁰On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

Hechos 22

Nueva Versión Internacional

22 ¹«Padres y hermanos, escuchen ahora mi defensa».

²Al oír que hablaba en hebreo, guardaron más silencio.

Pablo continuó: ³«Yo soy judío, nacido en Tarso de Cilicia, pero criado en esta ciudad. Bajo la tutela de Gamaliel recibí instrucción cabal en la Ley de nuestros antepasados, y fui tan celoso de Dios como cualquiera de ustedes lo es hoy día. ⁴Perseguí a muerte a los seguidores de este Camino; arresté y encarcelé a hombres y mujeres por igual. ⁵Así lo pueden atestiguar el sumo sacerdote y todo el Consejo de líderes religiosos. Incluso obtuve de parte de ellos cartas de extradición para nuestros hermanos judíos en Damasco, y fui allá con el fin de traer presos a Jerusalén a los que encontrara, para que fueran castigados.

⁶»Sucedió que a eso del mediodía, cuando me acercaba a Damasco, una intensa luz del cielo relampagueó de repente a mi alrededor. ⁷Caí al suelo y oí una voz que me decía: “Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues?”. ⁸“¿Quién eres, Señor?”, pregunté. “Yo soy Jesús de Nazaret, a quien tú persigues”, me contestó él. ⁹Los que me acompañaban vieron la luz, pero no percibieron la voz del que me hablaba. ¹⁰“¿Qué debo hacer, Señor?”, le pregunté. “Levántate —dijo el Señor—, y entra en Damasco. Allí se te dirá todo lo que se ha dispuesto que hagas”. ¹¹Mis compañeros me llevaron de la mano hasta Damasco porque el resplandor de aquella luz me había dejado ciego.

¹²»Vino a verme un tal Ananías, hombre devoto que observaba la Ley y a quien respetaban mucho los judíos que allí vivían. ¹³Se puso a mi lado y me dijo: “Hermano Saulo, ¡recibe la vista!”. Y en aquel mismo instante recobré la vista y pude verlo. ¹⁴Luego dijo: “El Dios de nuestros antepasados te ha escogido para que conozcas su voluntad, y para que veas al Justo y oigas las palabras de su boca. ¹⁵Tú le serás testigo ante toda persona de lo que has visto y oído. ¹⁶Y ahora, ¿qué esperas? Levántate, bautízate y lávate de tus pecados, invocando su nombre”.

¹⁷»Cuando volví a Jerusalén, mientras oraba en el Templo tuve una visión ¹⁸y vi al Señor que me hablaba: “¡Date prisa! Sal inmediatamente de Jerusalén, porque no aceptarán tu testimonio acerca de mí”. ¹⁹“Señor —le respondí—, ellos saben que yo andaba de sinagoga en sinagoga encarcelando y azotando a los que creen en ti; ²⁰y, cuando se derramaba la sangre de tu testigo Esteban, ahí estaba yo, dando mi aprobación y cuidando la ropa de quienes lo mataban”. ²¹Pero el Señor me respondió: “Vete; yo te enviaré lejos, a los no judíos”».

Pablo el ciudadano romano

²²La multitud estuvo escuchando a Pablo hasta que pronunció esas palabras. Entonces levantaron la voz y gritaron: «¡Bórralo de la tierra! ¡Ese tipo no merece vivir!».

²³Como seguían gritando, tirando sus mantos y arrojando polvo al aire, ²⁴el comandante ordenó que metieran a Pablo en el cuartel. Mandó que lo interrogaran a latigazos con el fin de averiguar por qué gritaban así contra él. ²⁵Cuando lo estaban sujetando con correas para azotarlo, Pablo dijo al centurión que estaba allí:

—¿Permite la ley que ustedes azoten a un ciudadano romano antes de ser juzgado?

²⁶Al oír esto, el centurión fue y avisó al comandante.

—¿Qué va a hacer usted? Resulta que ese hombre es ciudadano romano.

²⁷El comandante se acercó a Pablo y le dijo:

—Dime, ¿eres ciudadano romano?

—Sí, lo soy.

²⁸—A mí me costó una fortuna adquirir mi ciudadanía —dijo el comandante.

—Pues yo la tengo de nacimiento —respondió Pablo.

²⁹Los que iban a interrogarlo se retiraron enseguida. Al darse cuenta de que Pablo era ciudadano romano, el comandante mismo se asustó de haberlo encadenado.

Pablo ante el Consejo

³⁰Al día siguiente, como el comandante quería saber con certeza de qué acusaban los judíos a Pablo, lo desató y mandó que se reunieran los jefes de los sacerdotes y el Consejo en pleno. Luego llevó a Pablo para que compareciera ante ellos.

Hechos 22

La Biblia de las Américas

22 Hermanos y padres, escuchad^(A) mi defensa que ahora presento ante vosotros.

²Cuando oyeron que se dirigía a ellos en el idioma hebreo^[a]^(B), observaron aún más silencio; y él dijo*:

Pablo da testimonio de su conversión

³Yo soy judío^(C), nacido en Tarso^(D) de Cilicia^(E), pero criado en esta ciudad, educado bajo^[b] Gamaliel^(F) en estricta conformidad^(G) a la ley de nuestros padres^[c], siendo tan celoso de Dios como todos vosotros lo sois^(H) hoy. ⁴Y perseguí este Camino^(I) hasta la muerte, encadenando y echando en cárceles tanto a hombres como a mujeres^(J), ⁵de lo cual pueden testificar^[d] el sumo sacerdote^(K) y todo el concilio de los ancianos^[e]^(L). También de ellos recibí cartas^(M) para los hermanos^(N), y me puse en marcha para Damasco con el fin de traer presos^[f] a Jerusalén^(O) también a los que estaban allá, para que fueran castigados. ⁶^(P)Y aconteció que cuando iba de camino, estando ya cerca de Damasco, como al mediodía, de repente una luz muy brillante fulguró desde el cielo a mi derredor, ⁷y caí al suelo, y oí una voz que me decía: «Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues?». ⁸Y respondí: «¿Quién eres, Señor?». Y Él me dijo: «Yo soy Jesús el Nazareno^(Q), a quien tú persigues». ⁹Y los que estaban conmigo vieron la luz^(R), ciertamente, pero no comprendieron^[g] la voz^(S) del que me hablaba. ¹⁰Y yo dije: «¿Qué debo hacer^(T), Señor?». Y el Señor me dijo: «Levántate y entra a Damasco; y allí se te dirá todo lo que se ha ordenado que hagas». ¹¹Pero como yo no veía por causa del resplandor^[h] de aquella luz, los que estaban conmigo me llevaron de la mano y entré a Damasco^(U). ¹²Y uno llamado Ananías^(V), hombre piadoso según las normas de la ley, y de quien daban buen testimonio todos los judíos^(W) que vivían allí, ¹³vino a mí, y poniéndose a mi lado, me dijo: «Hermano Saulo, recibe la vista^(X)». En ese mismo instante^[i]^(Y) alcé los ojos y lo miré. ¹⁴Y él dijo: «El Dios de nuestros padres^(Z) te ha designado^[j]^(AA) para que conozcas su voluntad, y para que veas^(AB) al Justo^(AC) y oigas palabra^[k] de su boca. ¹⁵Porque testigo^(AD) suyo serás a todos los hombres de lo que has visto y oído^(AE). ¹⁶Y ahora, ¿por qué te detienes? Levántate y bautízate^(AF), y lava tus pecados^(AG) invocando su nombre^(AH)». ¹⁷Y aconteció que cuando regresé a Jerusalén^(AI) y me hallaba orando en el templo, caí en un éxtasis^(AJ), ¹⁸y vi al Señor que me decía: «Apresúrate y sal pronto de Jerusalén porque no aceptarán tu testimonio acerca de mí^(AK)». ¹⁹Y yo dije: «Señor, ellos saben bien que en una sinagoga tras otra, yo encarcelaba^(AL) y azotaba^(AM) a los que creían en ti. ²⁰Y cuando se derramaba la sangre de tu testigo Esteban, allí estaba también yo dando mi aprobación, y cuidando los mantos de los que lo estaban matando^(AN)». ²¹Pero Él me dijo: «Ve, porque te voy a enviar lejos, a los gentiles^(AO)».

Pablo bajo vigilancia del comandante

²²Lo oyeron hasta que dijo esto^[l], y entonces alzaron sus voces y dijeron: ¡Quita de la tierra a ese individuo^(AP)! No se le debe permitir que viva^(AQ). ²³Como ellos vociferaban y arrojaban sus mantos^(AR) y echaban polvo^(AS) al aire, ²⁴el comandante^[m] ordenó que lo llevaran al cuartel^(AT), diciendo que debía ser sometido^(AU) a^[n] azotes para saber la razón por qué gritaban contra él de aquella manera. ²⁵Cuando lo estiraron con^[o] correas, Pablo dijo al centurión que estaba allí: ¿Os es lícito azotar a un ciudadano^[p] romano^(AV) sin haberle hecho juicio? ²⁶Al oír esto el centurión, fue al comandante y le avisó, diciendo: ¿Qué vas a hacer? Porque este hombre es romano. ²⁷Vino el comandante a Pablo y le dijo: Dime, ¿eres romano? Y él dijo: Sí. ²⁸Y el comandante respondió: Yo adquirí esta ciudadanía por una gran cantidad de dinero. Y Pablo dijo: Pero yo soy ciudadano de nacimiento. ²⁹Entonces los que iban a someterlo a^[q] azotes^(AW), al instante lo soltaron^[r]; y también el comandante tuvo temor cuando supo que Pablo era romano^(AX), y porque lo había atado con cadenas^(AY).

Pablo ante el concilio

³⁰Al día siguiente, queriendo saber con certeza^(AZ) la causa por la cual los judíos lo acusaban, lo soltó, y ordenó a los principales sacerdotes y a todo el concilio^[s]^(BA) que se reunieran; y llevando^[t] a Pablo, lo puso ante ellos^(BB).

Footnotes

Hechos 22:2 I.e., arameo judaico
Hechos 22:3 Lit., a los pies de
Hechos 22:3 Lit., conforme a la rigidez de la ley ancestral
Hechos 22:5 Lit., testificar en mi favor
Hechos 22:5 I.e., el Sanedrín
Hechos 22:5 Lit., estando atados
Hechos 22:9 U, oyeron (con entendimiento)
Hechos 22:11 O, de la gloria
Hechos 22:13 O, Al instante; lit., Y en esa misma hora
Hechos 22:14 O, escogido
Hechos 22:14 O, mensaje; lit., voz
Hechos 22:22 Lit., esta palabra
Hechos 22:24 Gr., quiliarca; i.e., oficial militar romano al mando de mil soldados, y así en el resto del cap.
Hechos 22:24 Lit., examinado con
Hechos 22:25 Lit., para las
Hechos 22:25 Lit., hombre
Hechos 22:29 Lit., examinarlo con
Hechos 22:29 Lit., se retiraron de él
Hechos 22:30 O, Sanedrín
Hechos 22:30 Lit., bajando

Acts 22

Legacy Standard Bible

22 “^(A)Men, brothers, and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”

²And when they heard that he was addressing them in the ^(B)Hebrew language, they became even quieter; and he *said,

³“^(C)I am ^(D)a Jew, born in ^(E)Tarsus of ^(F)Cilicia, but having been brought up in this city, having been instructed at the feet of ^(G)Gamaliel according to the ^(H)strictness of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as ^(I)you all are today, ⁴^(J)I persecuted this ^(K)Way to the death, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons, ⁵as also ^(L)the high priest and all ^(M)the Council of the elders ^[a]can testify. From them I also ^(N)received letters to ^(O)the brothers, and started off for ^(P)Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem ^[b]as prisoners to be punished.

⁶“^(Q)But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, ⁷and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ ⁸And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am ^(R)Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ ⁹And those who were with me ^(S)beheld the light, to be sure, but ^(T)did not ^[c]understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. ¹⁰And I said, ‘^(U)What should I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been determined for you to do.’ ¹¹But since I ^(V)could not see because of the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

¹²“Now a certain ^(W)Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and ^(X)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, ¹³came to me, and standing near, said to me, ‘^(Y)Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ And ^[d]^(Z)at that very hour I regained my sight and saw him. ¹⁴And he said, ‘^(AA)The God of our fathers has ^(AB)appointed you to know His will and to ^(AC)see the ^(AD)Righteous One and to hear a ^[e]voice from His mouth. ¹⁵For you will be ^(AE)a witness for Him to all men of ^(AF)what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶Now why do you delay? ^(AG)Rise up and be baptized, and ^(AH)wash away your sins, ^(AI)calling on His name.’

¹⁷“Now it happened when I ^(AJ)returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I ^(AK)fell into a trance, ¹⁸and I saw Him saying to me, ‘^(AL)Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your witness about Me.’ ¹⁹And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another ^(AM)I used to imprison and ^(AN)beat those who believed in You. ²⁰And ^(AO)when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and guarding the garments of those who were slaying him.’ ²¹And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away ^(AP)to the Gentiles.’”

Paul, a Citizen of Rome

²²And they were listening to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “^(AQ)Away with such a fellow from the earth, for ^(AR)he should not be allowed to live!” ²³And as they were crying out and ^(AS)throwing off their garments and ^(AT)tossing dust into the air, ²⁴the ^[f]commander ordered him to be brought into ^(AU)the barracks, stating that he should be ^(AV)examined by flogging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way. ²⁵But when they stretched him out ^[g]with leather straps, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it ^[h]lawful for you to flog ^(AW)a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?” ²⁶And when the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported to him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.” ²⁷And the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” ²⁸And the commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I have been born a citizen.” ²⁹Therefore those who were about to ^(AX)examine him immediately withdrew from him; and the commander also ^(AY)was afraid when he learned that he was a Roman, and because he had ^(AZ)bound him.

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

³⁰But on the next day, ^(BA)wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he ^(BB)released him and ordered the chief priests and all ^(BC)the Sanhedrin to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

Footnotes

Acts 22:5 Lit testifies for me
Acts 22:5 Lit having been bound
Acts 22:9 Or hear (with comprehension)
Acts 22:13 Or instantly
Acts 22:14 Or message
Acts 22:24 Military leader over 1,000 soldiers
Acts 22:25 Or for the whip
Acts 22:25 Interrogation by torture was a procedure used with slaves

Acts 22

New International Version

22 ¹“Brothers and fathers,^(A) listen now to my defense.”

²When 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. ⁴I persecuted^(J) the followers of this Way^(K) to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,^(L) ⁵as 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) ⁷I 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. ⁹My 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) ¹¹My 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) ¹³He 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. ¹⁵You will be his witness^(AA) to all people of what you have seen^(AB) and heard. ¹⁶And 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) ¹⁸and 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. ²⁰And 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

²²The 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)

²³As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks^(AN) and flinging dust into the air,^(AO) ²⁴the 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. ²⁵As 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)

²⁶When 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.”

²⁷The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered.

²⁸Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

²⁹Those 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

³⁰The 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

King James Version (KJV)

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Acts 22

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