English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

1"Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you."

2And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:

2And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he said,

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.

3"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.

4I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,

4"I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,

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 also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.

6“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me.

6"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?’

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 Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

8"And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom 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.

9"And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand 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.’

10"And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed 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.

11"But 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.

12“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,

12"A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived 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 to me, and standing near said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very time I looked up at 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;

14"And he said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth.

15for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

15'For you will be a witness for Him to all men 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.’

16'Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'

17“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance

17"It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance,

18and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’

18and I saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste, 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.

19"And I said, 'Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You.

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.’

20'And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.'

21And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

21"And He said to me, 'Go! For 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 statement, and then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!"

23And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,

23And as they were crying out and throwing off their cloaks and tossing 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, stating that he should be examined by scourging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way.

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?”

25But when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and 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 to the commander and told him, saying, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman."

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?" And he said, "Yes."

28The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.”

28The commander answered, "I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money." And Paul said, "But I was actually born a citizen."

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 immediately let go of him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains.

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.

30But on the next day, wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Council to assemble, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

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