Acts 21:40-22:23

English Standard Version

⁴⁰ And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, ^(A)motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in ^(B)the Hebrew language,^[a] saying:

22 ^(C)“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

² And when they heard that he was addressing them in ^(D)the Hebrew language,^[b] they became even more quiet. And he said:

^3 (E)“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated ^(F)at the feet of ^(G)Gamaliel^{[c] (H)}according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, ^(I)being zealous for God ^(J)as all of you are this day. ^4 (K)I persecuted ^(L)this Way ^(M)to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, ⁵ as ^(N)the high priest and ^(O)the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to ^(P)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 (Q)“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. ⁷ And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ ⁸ And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am ^(R)Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ ^9 (S)Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand^[d] the voice of the one who was speaking to me. ¹⁰ And I said, ^(T)‘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.’ ¹¹ And 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 ^(U)one Ananias, a devout man ^(V)according to the law, ^(W)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, ^13 (X)came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And ^(Y)at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. ¹⁴ And he said, ^(Z)‘The God of our fathers ^(AA)appointed you to know his will, ^(AB)to see ^(AC)the Righteous One and ^(AD)to hear a voice from his mouth; ¹⁵ for ^(AE)you will be a witness for him to everyone of what ^(AF)you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why do you wait? ^(AG)Rise and be baptized and ^(AH)wash away your sins, ^(AI)calling on his name.’

^17 (AJ)“When I had returned to Jerusalem and ^(AK)was praying in the temple, I fell into ^(AL)a trance ¹⁸ and saw him saying to me, ^(AM)‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ ¹⁹ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another ^(AN)I imprisoned and ^(AO)beat those who believed in you. ²⁰ And when the blood of Stephen ^(AP)your witness was being shed, ^(AQ)I myself was standing by and ^(AR)approving and ^(AS)watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ ²¹ And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you ^(AT)far away to the Gentiles.’”

Paul and the Roman Tribune

²² Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, ^(AU)“Away with such a fellow from the earth! For ^(AV)he should not be allowed to live.” ²³ And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,