English Standard Version

New Living Translation

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

1“Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said, “listen to me as I offer my defense.”

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

2When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater.

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.

3Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.

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

4And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.

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.

5The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers of the Way from there to Jerusalem, in chains, 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“As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down 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.’

8“‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the voice replied, ‘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.

9The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice 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“I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are 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“I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions.

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

12A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus.

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.

13He came and stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see 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“Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak.

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

15For you are to be his witness, telling everyone 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.’

16What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’

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

17“After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and 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.’

18I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t 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“‘But Lord,’ I argued, ‘they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned 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.’

20And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’

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

21“But the Lord 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.”

22The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, “Away with such a fellow! He isn’t fit to live!”

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

23They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air. Paul Reveals His Roman Citizenship

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 brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime. He wanted to find out why the crowd had become so furious.

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?”

25When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?”

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 officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked, “What are you doing? 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.”

27So the commander went over and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I certainly am,” Paul replied.

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

28“I am, too,” the commander muttered, “and it cost me plenty!” Paul answered, “But I am a citizen by birth!”

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.

29The soldiers who were about to interrogate Paul quickly withdrew when they heard he was a Roman citizen, and the commander was frightened because he had ordered him bound and whipped. Paul before the High Council

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 the commander ordered the leading priests into session with the Jewish high council. He wanted to find out what the trouble was all about, so he released Paul to have him stand before them.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.