Acts 22
a“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”
2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in athe Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:
3 a“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated bat the feet of cGamaliel daccording to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, ebeing zealous for God fas all of you are this day. 4 aI persecuted bthis Way cto the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as athe high priest and bthe whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to cthe brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 a“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 aJesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 aNow those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, a‘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 aone Ananias, a devout man baccording to the law, cwell spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 acame to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And bat that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, a‘The God of our fathers bappointed you to know his will, cto see dthe Righteous One and eto hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for ayou will be a witness for him to everyone of what byou have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? aRise and be baptized and bwash away your sins, ccalling on his name.’
17 a“When I had returned to Jerusalem and bwas praying in the temple, I fell into ca trance 18 and saw him saying to me, a‘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 aI imprisoned and bbeat those who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of Stephen ayour witness was being shed, bI myself was standing by and capproving and bwatching over the garments of those who killed him.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you afar 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, a“Away with such a fellow from the earth! For bhe should not be allowed to live.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into athe barracks, saying that he should be bexamined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. 25 But 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 aa man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” 26 When 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.” 27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29 So those who were about ato examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also bwas afraid, cfor he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that dhe had bound him.
Paul Before the Council
30 But on the next day, adesiring 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 ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.