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Acts 22

"Men, brothers and fathers, hear my defence before you now." (And when they heard he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept the more quiet. And he says:) "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel. I was taught according to the perfect manner of the law of our fathers and was zealou

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Paul tells his story

"Men, brothers and fathers, hear my defence before you now." (And when they heard he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept the more quiet. And he says:) "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel. I was taught according to the perfect manner of the law of our fathers and was zealous towards God, as all of you are today. I persecuted this Way to death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As the high priest testifies about me too, and all the council of the elders. From them I received letters to the brothers and went to Damascus, to bring those who were there tied up to Jerusalem to be punished. It happened that as I made my journey and approached Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.' And those with me truly saw the light and were afraid. But they didn't hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. And I said: What'll I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me: Get up and go into Damascus. And there you'll be told about everything appointed for you to do. When I couldn't see because of the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a God-fearing man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, Came to me and stood and said to me: Brother Saul, get your sight. And the same hour I looked up at him. He said: The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know his will and see that Just One and hear the voice of his mouth. For you'll be his witness to all men of what you've seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptised, wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' It happened that when I'd come back again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance. And saw him saying to me: Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly. Because they won't take your witness about me. And I said: Lord, they know I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you. When the blood of your martyr Stephen was spilt, I was standing by too and agreeing to his death, and kept the clothes of those who killed him. Then he said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.'"

Men, brothers and fathers, hear my defence that I make now to you. (And when they heard he spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept the more quiet. And he says:) I'm truly a man who's a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this town at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the exact way of the teaching of the fathers, and was zealous towards God, the way you all are today. And I chased this way right to death, tying up and handing over into prisons both men and women. As the high priest testifies about me too, and all the council of the elders. From them I got letters to the brothers and went to Damascus, to bring the ones who were there tied up to Jerusalem to be punished. And it happened that as I made my journey and got near Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me: Saul, Saul, why do you chase me? And I answered: Who are you, Lord? And he said to me: I'm Jesus of Nazareth, who you chase. And the ones with me truly saw the light and were afraid. But they didn't hear the voice of the one who spoke to me. And I said: What'll I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me: Get up and go into Damascus. And there you'll be told about everything set out for you to do. And when I couldn't see because of the glory of that light, being led by the hand of the ones with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a God-fearing man according to the teaching, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me and stood and said to me: Brother Saul, get your sight. And the same hour I looked up at him. And he said: The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know his will and see that Just One and hear the voice of his mouth. Because you'll be his witness to all men of what you've seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Get up and be baptised and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And it happened that when I'd come back again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance. And saw him saying to me: Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly. Because they won't take your witness about me. And I said: Lord, they know I put in prison and beat in every meeting house the ones who believed in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was spilt, I was standing by too and agreeing to his death, and kept the clothes of the ones who killed him. And he said to me: Go your way. Because I'll send you a long way off to the nations.

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,) I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

1

"Men, brothers and fathers, hear my defence before you now."

Plain English

Men, brothers and fathers, hear my defence that I make now to you.

King James Version, 1611

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

2

(And when they heard he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept the more quiet. And he says:)

Plain English

(And when they heard he spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept the more quiet. And he says:)

King James Version, 1611

(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

3

"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel. I was taught according to the perfect manner of the law of our fathers and was zealous towards God, as all of you are today.

Plain English

I'm truly a man who's a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this town at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the exact way of the teaching of the fathers, and was zealous towards God, the way you all are today.

King James Version, 1611

I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

4

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

Plain English

And I chased this way right to death, tying up and handing over into prisons both men and women.

King James Version, 1611

And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

5

As the high priest testifies about me too, and all the council of the elders. From them I received letters to the brothers and went to Damascus, to bring those who were there tied up to Jerusalem to be punished.

Plain English

As the high priest testifies about me too, and all the council of the elders. From them I got letters to the brothers and went to Damascus, to bring the ones who were there tied up to Jerusalem to be punished.

King James Version, 1611

As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

6

It happened that as I made my journey and approached Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round me.

Plain English

And it happened that as I made my journey and got near Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round me.

King James Version, 1611

And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

7

I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'

Plain English

And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me: Saul, Saul, why do you chase me?

King James Version, 1611

And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

8

I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.'

Plain English

And I answered: Who are you, Lord? And he said to me: I'm Jesus of Nazareth, who you chase.

King James Version, 1611

And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

9

And those with me truly saw the light and were afraid. But they didn't hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.

Plain English

And the ones with me truly saw the light and were afraid. But they didn't hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.

King James Version, 1611

And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

10

And I said: What'll I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me: Get up and go into Damascus. And there you'll be told about everything appointed for you to do.

Plain English

And I said: What'll I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me: Get up and go into Damascus. And there you'll be told about everything set out for you to do.

King James Version, 1611

And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

11

When I couldn't see because of the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those with me, I came into Damascus.

Plain English

And when I couldn't see because of the glory of that light, being led by the hand of the ones with me, I came into Damascus.

King James Version, 1611

And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

12

And one Ananias, a God-fearing man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,

Plain English

And one Ananias, a God-fearing man according to the teaching, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,

King James Version, 1611

And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

13

Came to me and stood and said to me: Brother Saul, get your sight. And the same hour I looked up at him.

Plain English

came to me and stood and said to me: Brother Saul, get your sight. And the same hour I looked up at him.

King James Version, 1611

Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

14

He said: The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know his will and see that Just One and hear the voice of his mouth.

Plain English

And he said: The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know his will and see that Just One and hear the voice of his mouth.

King James Version, 1611

And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

15

For you'll be his witness to all men of what you've seen and heard.

Plain English

Because you'll be his witness to all men of what you've seen and heard.

King James Version, 1611

For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

16

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

Plain English

And now why do you wait? Get up and be baptised and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

17

It happened that when I'd come back again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance.

Plain English

And it happened that when I'd come back again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance.

King James Version, 1611

And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

18

And saw him saying to me: Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly. Because they won't take your witness about me.

King James Version, 1611

And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

19

And I said: Lord, they know I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you.

Plain English

And I said: Lord, they know I put in prison and beat in every meeting house the ones who believed in you.

King James Version, 1611

And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

20

When the blood of your martyr Stephen was spilt, I was standing by too and agreeing to his death, and kept the clothes of those who killed him.

Plain English

And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was spilt, I was standing by too and agreeing to his death, and kept the clothes of the ones who killed him.

King James Version, 1611

And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

21

Then he said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.'"

Plain English

And he said to me: Go your way. Because I'll send you a long way off to the nations.

King James Version, 1611

And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

A Roman citizen

They listened until that word, then raised their voices: "Away with such a fellow from the earth! He isn't fit to live!" As they cried out and threw off their clothes and threw dust into the air, The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the barracks, and ordered that he should be examined by whipping, so he could know why they cried out like that against him. As they tied him up to whip him, Paul asked the centurion standing by, “Is it lawful for you to whip a Roman who has not been condemned?” When the centurion heard it, he went and told the chief captain: Watch what you do. Because this man is a Roman. Then the chief captain came and said to him: Tell me, are you a Roman? He said: Yes. The chief captain said, "I bought this citizenship for a great sum." Paul replied, "But I was born free." Then immediately those who should have examined him left him. And the chief captain was afraid too, after he knew he was a Roman and because he'd tied him. The next day, because he wanted to know for sure why he was accused by the Jews, he loosened him from his bonds and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

And they listened to him right to this word, and then lifted up their voices: Away with such a fellow from the earth. Because it isn't fit that he should live. And as they cried out and threw off their clothes and threw dust into the air, the chief captain ordered him to be brought into the castle, and ordered that he should be examined by whipping, so he could know why they cried out like that against him. And as they tied him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion standing by: Is it lawful for you to whip a man who's a Roman and not condemned? When the centurion heard it, he went and told the chief captain: Watch what you do. Because this man is a Roman. Then the chief captain came and said to him: Tell me, are you a Roman? He said: Yes. And the chief captain answered: With a big sum I got this freedom. And Paul said: But I was free born. Then straight away the ones who should have examined him left him. And the chief captain was afraid too, after he knew he was a Roman and because he'd tied him. The next day, because he wanted to know for sure why he was charged by the Jews, he loosened him from his bonds and ordered the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him in front of them.

And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman. Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea. And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born. Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

22

They listened until that word, then raised their voices: "Away with such a fellow from the earth! He isn't fit to live!"

Plain English

And they listened to him right to this word, and then lifted up their voices: Away with such a fellow from the earth. Because it isn't fit that he should live.

King James Version, 1611

And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

23

As they cried out and threw off their clothes and threw dust into the air,

Plain English

And as they cried out and threw off their clothes and threw dust into the air,

King James Version, 1611

And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

24

The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the barracks, and ordered that he should be examined by whipping, so he could know why they cried out like that against him.

Plain English

the chief captain ordered him to be brought into the castle, and ordered that he should be examined by whipping, so he could know why they cried out like that against him.

King James Version, 1611

The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.

25

As they tied him up to whip him, Paul asked the centurion standing by, “Is it lawful for you to whip a Roman who has not been condemned?”

Plain English

And as they tied him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion standing by: Is it lawful for you to whip a man who's a Roman and not condemned?

King James Version, 1611

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

26

When the centurion heard it, he went and told the chief captain: Watch what you do. Because this man is a Roman.

King James Version, 1611

When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.

27

Then the chief captain came and said to him: Tell me, are you a Roman? He said: Yes.

King James Version, 1611

Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

28

The chief captain said, "I bought this citizenship for a great sum." Paul replied, "But I was born free."

Plain English

And the chief captain answered: With a big sum I got this freedom. And Paul said: But I was free born.

King James Version, 1611

And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

29

Then immediately those who should have examined him left him. And the chief captain was afraid too, after he knew he was a Roman and because he'd tied him.

Plain English

Then straight away the ones who should have examined him left him. And the chief captain was afraid too, after he knew he was a Roman and because he'd tied him.

King James Version, 1611

Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

30

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

Plain English

The next day, because he wanted to know for sure why he was charged by the Jews, he loosened him from his bonds and ordered the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him in front of them.

King James Version, 1611

On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.