Acts 22
“Brethrena and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” 2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the aHebrew language, they kept all the more silent.
Then he said: 3 a“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city bat the feet of cGamaliel, taught daccording to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and ewas zealous toward God fas you all are today. 4 aI persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and aall the council of the elders, bfrom whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus cto bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 “Now ait happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven 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 So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’
9 “And athose who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. 10 So 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.’ 11 And 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.
12 “Then aa certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, bhaving a good testimony with all the cJews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14 Then he said, a‘The God of our fathers bhas chosen you that you should cknow His will, and dsee the Just One, eand hear the voice of His mouth. 15 aFor you will be His witness to all men of bwhat you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, aand wash away your sins, bcalling on the name of the Lord.’
17 “Now ait happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance 18 and asaw Him saying to me, b‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ 19 So I said, ‘Lord, athey know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and bbeat those who believe on You. 20 aAnd when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by bconsenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then He said to me, ‘Depart, afor I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”
Paul’s Roman Citizenship
22 And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, a“Away with such a fellow from the earth, for bhe is not fit to live!” 23 Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air, 24 the 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. 25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, a“Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”
26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.”
27 Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?”
He said, “Yes.”
28 The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.”
And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”
29 Then 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.
The Sanhedrin Divided
30 The 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.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
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