New King James Version

English Standard Version

1“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.”

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

2And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said:

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

3“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.

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.

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

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

5as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

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.

6“Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.

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

8So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

8And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

9“And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.

9Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

10So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’

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.’

11And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

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.

12“Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,

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

13came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him.

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.

14Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.

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;

15For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

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

16And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

16And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

17“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance

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

18and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’

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

19So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You.

19And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.

20And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’

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.’

21Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”

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

22And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!”

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.”

23Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air,

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

24the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him.

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.

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

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?”

26When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.”

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.”

27Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”

27So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.”

28The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”

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

29Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

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.

30The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

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.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.