| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” | 1Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you." |
| 2And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: | 2When they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even quieter. |
| 3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. | 3He continued, "I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel and educated according to the strict view of our patriarchal law. Being zealous for God, just as all of you are today, |
| 4I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, | 4I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women in jail, |
| 5as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. | 5as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to bring those who were prisoners there to be punished in Jerusalem." |
| 6“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. | 6As I was traveling and near Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. |
| 7And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ | 7I 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 Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ | 8I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?'" He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, the One you are persecuting!' |
| 9Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. | 9Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of the One who was speaking to me." |
| 10And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ | 10Then I said, 'What should I do, Lord?'" And the Lord told me, Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that is assigned for you to do.'" |
| 11And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. | 11Since I couldn't see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. |
| 12“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, | 12Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good reputation with all the Jews residing there, |
| 13came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. | 13came and stood by me and said, 'Brother Saul, regain your sight.' And in that very hour I looked up and saw him. |
| 14And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; | 14Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of His voice. |
| 15for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. | 15For you will be a witness for Him to all people of what you have seen and heard. |
| 16And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ | 16And now, why delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name.'" |
| 17“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance | 17After I came back to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple complex, I went into a visionary state |
| 18and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ | 18and saw Him telling me, Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me!'" |
| 19And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. | 19But I said, 'Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in You imprisoned and beaten. |
| 20And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ | 20And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I was standing by and approving, and I guarded the clothes of those who killed him.'" |
| 21And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” | 21Then He said to me, Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'" |
| 22Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” | 22They listened to him up to this word. Then they raised their voices, shouting, "Wipe this person off the earth--it's a disgrace for him to live!" |
| 23And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, | 23As they were yelling and flinging aside their robes and throwing dust into the air, |
| 24the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. | 24the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, directing that he be examined with the scourge, so he could discover the reason they were shouting against him like this. |
| 25But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” | 25As they stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing by, "Is it legal for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and is uncondemned?" |
| 26When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” | 26When the centurion heard this, he went and reported to the commander, saying, "What are you going to do? For this man is a Roman citizen." |
| 27So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” | 27The commander came and said to him, "Tell me--are you a Roman citizen?"" Yes," he said. |
| 28The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” | 28The commander replied, "I bought this citizenship for a large amount of money."" But I was born a citizen," Paul said. |
| 29So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him. | 29Therefore, those who were about to examine him withdrew from him at once. The commander too was alarmed when he realized Paul was a Roman citizen and he had bound him. |
| 30But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. | 30The next day, since he wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and instructed the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and placed him before them. |
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