¹ Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

² (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

³ 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 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

⁵ 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 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 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

⁸ And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

⁹ 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 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 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 devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

¹³ Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

¹⁴ 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 thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

¹⁶ And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

¹⁷ 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 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 that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

²⁰ 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 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

²² 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 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 castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.

²⁵ 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 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 unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

²⁸ And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

²⁹ 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 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.

---

¹ Men, ^G435 brethren, ^G80 and ^G2532 fathers, ^G3962 hear ye ^G191 my ^G3450 defence ^G627 which I make now ^G3568 unto ^G4314 you. ^G5209

² (And ^G1161 when they heard ^G191 that ^G3754 he spake ^G4377 in the Hebrew ^G1446 tongue ^G1258 to them, ^G846 they kept ^G3930 the more ^G3123 silence: ^G2271 and ^G2532 he saith,) ^G5346

³ I ^G1473 am ^G1510 verily ^G3303 a man ^G435 which am a Jew, ^G2453 born ^G1080 in ^G1722 Tarsus, ^G5019 a city in Cilicia, ^G2791 yet ^G1161 brought up ^G397 in ^G1722 this ^G5026 city ^G4172 at ^G3844 the feet ^G4228 of Gamaliel, ^G1059 and taught ^G3811 according ^G2596 to the perfect manner ^G195 of the law ^G3551 of the fathers, ^G3971 and was ^G5225 zealous ^G2207 toward God, ^G2316 as ^G2531 ye ^G5210 all ^G3956 are ^G2075 this day. ^G4594

⁴ And I ^G3739 persecuted ^G1377 this ^G5026 way ^G3598 unto ^G891 the death, ^G2288 binding ^G1195 and ^G2532 delivering ^G3860 into ^G1519 prisons ^G5438 both ^G5037 men ^G435 and ^G2532 women. ^G1135

⁵ As ^G5613 also ^G2532 the high priest ^G749 doth bear ^G3140 me ^G3427 witness, ^G3140 and ^G2532 all ^G3956 the estate of the elders: ^G4244 from ^G3844 whom ^G3739 also ^G2532 I received ^G1209 letters ^G1992 unto ^G4314 the brethren, ^G80 and ^G2532 went ^G4198 to ^G1519 Damascus, ^G1154 to bring ^G71 them which were ^G5607 there ^G1566 bound ^G1210 unto ^G1519 Jerusalem, ^G2419 for to ^G2443 be punished. ^G5097

⁶ And ^G1161 it came to pass, ^G1096 that, as I made ^G4198 my ^G3427 journey, ^G4198 and ^G2532 was come nigh ^G1448 unto Damascus ^G1154 about ^G4012 noon, ^G3314 suddenly ^G1810 there shone ^G4015 from ^G1537 heaven ^G3772 a great ^G2425 light ^G5457 round ^G4015 about ^G4012 me. ^G1691

⁷ And ^G5037 I fell ^G4098 unto ^G1519 the ground, ^G1475 and ^G2532 heard ^G191 a voice ^G5456 saying ^G3004 unto me, ^G3427 Saul, ^G4549 Saul, ^G4549 why ^G5101 persecutest thou ^G1377 me? ^G3165

⁸ And ^G1161 I ^G1473 answered, ^G611 Who ^G5101 art thou, ^G1488 Lord? ^G2962 And ^G5037 he said ^G2036 unto ^G4314 me, ^G3165 I ^G1473 am ^G1510 Jesus ^G2424 of Nazareth, ^G3480 whom ^G3739 thou ^G4771 persecutest. ^G1377

⁹ And ^G1161 they that were ^G5607 with ^G4862 me ^G1698 saw ^G2300 indeed ^G3303 the light, ^G5457 and ^G2532 were ^G1096 afraid; ^G1719 but ^G1161 they heard ^G191 not ^G3756 the voice ^G5456 of him that spake ^G2980 to me. ^G3427

¹⁰ And ^G1161 I said, ^G2036 What ^G5101 shall I do, ^G4160 Lord? ^G2962 And ^G1161 the Lord ^G2962 said ^G2036 unto ^G4314 me, ^G3165 Arise, ^G450 and go ^G4198 into ^G1519 Damascus; ^G1154 and there ^G2546 it shall be told ^G2980 thee ^G4671 of ^G4012 all things ^G3956 which ^G3739 are appointed ^G5021 for thee ^G4671 to do. ^G4160

¹¹ And ^G1161 when ^G5613 I could ^G1689 not ^G3756 see ^G1689 for ^G575 the glory ^G1391 of that ^G1565 light, ^G5457 being led by the hand ^G5496 of ^G5259 them that were ^G4895 with me, ^G3427 I came ^G2064 into ^G1519 Damascus. ^G1154

¹² And ^G1161 one ^G5100 Ananias, ^G367 a devout ^G2152 man ^G435 according ^G2596 to the law, ^G3551 having a good report ^G3140 of ^G5259 all ^G3956 the Jews ^G2453 which dwelt ^G2730 there,

¹³ Came ^G2064 unto ^G4314 me, ^G3165 and ^G2532 stood, ^G2186 and said ^G2036 unto me, ^G3427 Brother ^G80 Saul, ^G4549 receive thy sight. ^G308 And ^G2504 the same ^G846 hour ^G5610 I ^G2504 looked up ^G308 upon ^G1519 him. ^G846

¹⁴ And ^G1161 he said, ^G2036 The God ^G2316 of our ^G2257 fathers ^G3962 hath chosen ^G4400 thee, ^G4571 that thou shouldest know ^G1097 his ^G846 will, ^G2307 and ^G2532 see ^G1492 that Just One, ^G1342 and ^G2532 shouldest hear ^G191 the voice ^G5456 of ^G1537 his ^G846 mouth. ^G4750

¹⁵ For ^G3754 thou shalt be ^G2071 his ^G846 witness ^G3144 unto ^G4314 all ^G3956 men ^G444 of what ^G3739 thou hast seen ^G3708 and ^G2532 heard. ^G191

¹⁶ And ^G2532 now ^G3568 why ^G5101 tarriest thou? ^G3195 arise, ^G450 and be baptized, ^G907 and ^G2532 wash away ^G628 thy ^G4675 sins, ^G266 calling on ^G1941 the name ^G3686 of the Lord. ^G2962

¹⁷ And ^G1161 it came to pass, ^G1096 that, when I ^G3427 was come again ^G5290 to ^G1519 Jerusalem, ^G2419 even ^G2532 while I ^G3450 prayed ^G4336 in ^G1722 the temple, ^G2411 I ^G3165 was ^G1096 in ^G1722 a trance; ^G1611

¹⁸ And ^G2532 saw ^G1492 him ^G846 saying ^G3004 unto me, ^G3427 Make haste, ^G4692 and ^G2532 get thee ^G1831 quickly ^{G5034 G1722} out of ^G1537 Jerusalem: ^G2419 for ^G1360 they will ^G3858 not ^G3756 receive ^G3858 thy ^G4675 testimony ^G3141 concerning ^G4012 me. ^G1700

¹⁹ And I ^G2504 said, ^G2036 Lord, ^G2962 they ^G846 know ^G1987 that ^G3754 I ^G1473 imprisoned ^{G2252 G5439} and ^G2532 beat ^G1194 in every ^G2596 synagogue ^G4864 them that believed ^G4100 on ^G1909 thee: ^G4571

²⁰ And ^G2532 when ^G3753 the blood ^G129 of thy ^G4675 martyr ^G3144 Stephen ^G4736 was shed, ^G1632 I ^G846 also ^G2532 was ^G2252 standing by, ^G2186 and ^G2532 consenting ^G4909 unto his ^G846 death, ^G336 and ^G2532 kept ^G5442 the raiment ^G2440 of them that slew ^G337 him. ^G846

²¹ And ^G2532 he said ^G2036 unto ^G4314 me, ^G3165 Depart: ^G4198 for ^G3754 I ^G1473 will send ^G1821 thee ^G4571 far hence ^G3112 unto ^G1519 the Gentiles. ^G1484

²² And ^G1161 they gave ^G191 him ^G846 audience ^G191 unto ^G891 this ^G5127 word, ^G3056 and ^G2532 then lifted up ^G1869 their ^G846 voices, ^G5456 and said, ^G3004 Away with ^G142 such ^G5108 a fellow from ^G575 the earth: ^G1093 for ^G1063 it is ^G2520 not ^G3756 fit ^G2520 that he ^G846 should live. ^G2198

²³ And ^G1161 as they ^G846 cried out, ^G2905 and ^G2532 cast off ^G4495 their clothes, ^G2440 and ^G2532 threw ^G906 dust ^G2868 into ^G1519 the air, ^G109

²⁴ The chief captain ^G5506 commanded ^G2753 him ^G846 to be brought ^G71 into ^G1519 the castle, ^G3925 and bade ^G2036 that he ^G846 should be examined ^G426 by scourging; ^G3148 that ^G2443 he might know ^G1921 wherefore ^{G1223 G3739 G156} they cried ^G2019 so ^G3779 against ^G2019 him. ^G846

²⁵ And ^G1161 as ^G5613 they bound ^{G4385 G4385} him ^G846 with thongs, ^G2438 Paul ^G3972 said ^G2036 unto ^G4314 the centurion ^G1543 that stood by, ^G2476 Is it lawful ^{G1487 G1832} for you ^G5213 to scourge ^G3147 a man ^G444 that is a Roman, ^G4514 and ^G2532 uncondemned? ^G178

²⁶ When ^G1161 the centurion ^G1543 heard ^G191 that, he went ^G4334 and told ^G518 the chief captain, ^G5506 saying, ^G3004 Take heed ^G3708 what ^G5101 thou doest: ^{G3195 G4160} for ^G1063 this ^G3778 man ^G444 is ^G2076 a Roman. ^G4514

²⁷ Then ^G1161 the chief captain ^G5506 came, ^G4334 and said ^G2036 unto him, ^G846 Tell ^G3004 me, ^{G3427 G1487} art ^G1488 thou ^G4771 a Roman? ^{G4514 G1161} He said, ^G5346 Yea. ^G3483

²⁸ And ^G5037 the chief captain ^G5506 answered, ^G611 With a great ^G4183 sum ^G2774 obtained ^G2932 I ^G1473 this ^G5026 freedom. ^G4174 And ^G1161 Paul ^G3972 said, ^G5346 But ^G1161 I ^{G1473 G2532} was free born. ^G1080

²⁹ Then ^G3767 straightway ^G2112 they departed ^G868 from ^G575 him ^G846 which ^G3588 should ^G3195 have examined ^G426 him: ^G846 and ^G1161 the chief captain ^G5506 also ^G2532 was afraid, ^G5399 after he knew ^G1921 that ^G3754 he was ^G2076 a Roman, ^G4514 and ^G2532 because ^G3754 he had ^G2258 bound ^G1210 him. ^G846

^{30 G1161} On the morrow, ^G1887 because he would ^G1014 have known ^G1097 the certainty ^G804 wherefore ^G5101 he was accused ^G2723 of ^G3844 the Jews, ^G2453 he loosed ^G3089 him ^G846 from ^G575 his bands, ^G1199 and ^G2532 commanded ^G2753 the chief priests ^G749 and ^G2532 all ^G3650 their ^G846 council ^G4892 to appear, ^G2064 and ^G2532 brought ^G2609 Paul ^G3972 down, ^G2609 and set him ^G2476 before ^G1519 them. ^G846

---

¹ Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.

² And when they heard that he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: and he saith,

³ I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as ye all are this day:

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

⁵ 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 journeyed to Damascus to bring them also that were there unto Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.

⁶ And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and drew nigh unto Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

⁷ And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

⁸ And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

⁹ And they that were with me beheld indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

¹⁰ 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 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 devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there,

¹³ came unto me, and standing by me said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I looked up on him.

¹⁴ And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.

¹⁵ For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

¹⁶ And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.

¹⁷ And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,

¹⁸ and saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not receive of thee testimony concerning me.

¹⁹ And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

²⁰ and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that slew him.

²¹ And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles.

²² And they gave him audience unto this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

²³ And as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,

²⁴ the chief captain commanded him be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him.

²⁵ And when they had tied him up with the 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 And when the centurion heard it, he went to the chief captain and told him, saying, What art thou about to do? for this man is a Roman.

²⁷ And the chief captain came and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said, Yea.

²⁸ And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I am `a Roman' born.

²⁹ They then that were about to examine him straightway departed from him: and the chief captain also was afraid when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

³⁰ But on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

---

¹ `Men, brethren, and fathers, hear my defence now unto you;' --

² and they having heard that in the Hebrew dialect he was speaking to them, gave the more silence, and he saith, --

³ `I, indeed, am a man, a Jew, having been born in Tarsus of Cilicia, and brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, having been taught according to the exactitude of a law of the fathers, being zealous of God, as all ye are to-day.

⁴ `And this way I persecuted unto death, binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women,

⁵ as also the chief priest doth testify to me, and all the eldership; from whom also having received letters unto the brethren, to Damascus, I was going on, to bring also those there bound to Jerusalem that they might be punished,

⁶ and it came to pass, in my going on and coming nigh to Damascus, about noon, suddenly out of the heaven there shone a great light round about me,

⁷ I fell also to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute?

⁸ `And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? and he said unto me, I am Jesus the Nazarene whom thou dost persecute --

⁹ and they who are with me the light did see, and became afraid, and the voice they heard not of him who is speaking to me --

¹⁰ and I said, What shall I do, Lord? and the Lord said unto me, Having risen, go on to Damascus, and there it shall be told thee concerning all things that have been appointed for thee to do.

¹¹ `And when I did not see from the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those who are with me, I came to Damascus,

¹² and a certain one, Ananias, a pious man according to the law, being testified to by all the Jews dwelling `there',

¹³ having come unto me and stood by `me', said to me, Saul, brother, look up; and I the same hour did look up to him;

¹⁴ and he said, The God of our fathers did choose thee beforehand to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice out of his mouth,

¹⁵ because thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard;

¹⁶ and now, why tarriest thou? having risen, baptize thyself, and wash away thy sins, calling upon the name of the Lord.

¹⁷ `And it came to pass when I returned to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, I came into a trance,

¹⁸ and I saw him saying to me, Haste and go forth in haste out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive thy testimony concerning me;

¹⁹ and I said, Lord, they -- they know that I was imprisoning and was scourging in every synagogue those believing on thee;

²⁰ and when the blood of thy witness Stephen was being poured forth, I also was standing by and assenting to his death, and keeping the garments of those putting him to death;

²¹ and he said unto me, Go, because to nations far off I will send thee.'

²² And they were hearing him unto this word, and they lifted up their voice, saying, `Away from the earth with such an one; for it is not fit for him to live.'

²³ And they crying out and casting up their garments, and throwing dust into the air,

²⁴ the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, saying, `By scourges let him be examined;' that he might know for what cause they were crying so against him.

²⁵ And as he was stretching him with the thongs, Paul said unto the centurion who was standing by, `A man, a Roman, uncondemned -- is it lawful to you to scourge;'

²⁶ and the centurion having heard, having gone near to the chief captain, told, saying, `Take heed what thou art about to do, for this man is a Roman;'

²⁷ and the chief captain having come near, said to him, `Tell me, art thou a Roman?' and he said, `Yes;'

²⁸ and the chief captain answered, `I, with a great sum, did obtain this citizenship;' but Paul said, `But I have been even born `so'.'

²⁹ Immediately, therefore, they departed from him who are about to examine him, and the chief captain also was afraid, having learned that he is a Roman, and because he had bound him,

³⁰ and on the morrow, intending to know the certainty wherefore he is accused by the Jews, he did loose him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their sanhedrim to come, and having brought down Paul, he set `him' before them.

---

¹ Brethren and fathers, hear my defence which I now make to you.

² And hearing that he addressed them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept the more quiet; and he says,

³ *I* am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, educated according to [the] exactness of the law of [our] fathers, being zealous for God, as *ye* are all this day;

⁴ who have persecuted this way unto death, binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women;

⁵ as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the elderhood: from whom also, having received letters to the brethren, I went to Damascus to bring those also who were there, bound, to Jerusalem, to be punished.

⁶ And it came to pass, as I was journeying and drawing near to Damascus, that, about mid-day, there suddenly shone out of heaven a great light round about me.

⁷ And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

⁸ And *I* answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me, *I* am Jesus the Nazaraean, whom *thou* persecutest.

⁹ But they that were with me beheld the light, [and were filled with fear], but heard not the voice of him that was speaking to me.

¹⁰ And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Rise up, and go to Damascus, and there it shall be told thee of all things which it is appointed thee to do.

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

¹² And a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the law, borne witness to by all the Jews who dwelt [there],

¹³ coming to me and standing by me, said to me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And *I*, in the same hour, received my sight and saw him.

¹⁴ And he said, The God of our fathers has chosen thee beforehand to know his will, and to see the just one, and to hear a voice out of his mouth;

¹⁵ for thou shalt be a witness for him to all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

¹⁶ And now why lingerest thou? Arise and get baptised, and have thy sins washed away, calling on his name.

¹⁷ And it came to pass when I had returned to Jerusalem, and as I was praying in the temple, that I became in ecstasy,

¹⁸ and saw him saying to me, Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

¹⁹ And *I* said, Lord, they themselves know that *I* was imprisoning and beating in every synagogue those that believe on thee;

²⁰ and when the blood of thy witness Stephen was shed, I also myself was standing by and consenting, and kept the clothes of them who killed him.

²¹ And he said to me, Go, for *I* will send thee to the nations afar off.

²² And they heard him until this word, and lifted up their voice, saying, Away with such a one as that from the earth, for it was not fit he should live.

²³ And as they were crying, and throwing away their clothes, and casting dust into the air,

²⁴ the chiliarch commanded him to be brought into the fortress, saying that he should be examined by scourging, that he might ascertain for what cause they cried thus against him.

²⁵ But as they stretched him forward with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood [by], Is it lawful for you to scourge a man [who is] a Roman and uncondemned?

²⁶ And the centurion, having heard it, went and reported it to the chiliarch, saying, What art thou going to do? for this man is a Roman.

²⁷ And the chiliarch coming up said to him, Tell me, Art *thou* a Roman? And he said, Yes.

²⁸ And the chiliarch answered, *I*, for a great sum, bought this citizenship. And Paul said, But *I* was also [free] born.

²⁹ Immediately therefore those who were going to examine him left him, and the chiliarch also was afraid when he ascertained that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

³⁰ And on the morrow, desirous to know the certainty [of the matter] why he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and having brought Paul down set him before them.

---

¹ "Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you."

² When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said,

³ "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day.

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

⁵ As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.

⁶ It happened that, as I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from the sky a great light around me.

⁷ I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'

⁸ I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.'

⁹ "Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn't understand the voice of him who spoke to me.

¹⁰ I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' The Lord said to me, 'Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.'

¹¹ When I couldn't see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

¹² One Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,

¹³ came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' In that very hour I looked up at him.

¹⁴ He said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.

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

¹⁶ Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

¹⁷ "It happened that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,

¹⁸ and saw him saying to me, 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.'

¹⁹ I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you.

²⁰ When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.'

²¹ "He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.'"

²² They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, "Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn't fit to live!"

²³ As they cried out, and threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air,

²⁴ the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that.

²⁵ When they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?"

²⁶ When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, "Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!"

²⁷ The commanding officer came and asked him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?" He said, "Yes."

²⁸ The commanding officer answered, "I bought my citizenship for a great price." Paul said, "But I was born a Roman."

²⁹ Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.

³⁰ But on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

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¹ My brothers and fathers, give ear to the story of my life which I now put before you.

² And, hearing him talking in the Hebrew language, they became the more quiet, and he said,

³ I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia by birth, but I had my education in this town at the feet of Gamaliel, being trained in the keeping of every detail of the law of our fathers; given up to the cause of God with all my heart, as you are today.

⁴ And I made attacks on this Way, even to death, taking men and women and putting them in prison.

⁵ Of which the high priest will be a witness, and all the rulers, from whom I had letters to the brothers; and I went into Damascus, to take those who were there as prisoners to Jerusalem for punishment.

⁶ And it came about that while I was on my journey, coming near to Damascus, about the middle of the day, suddenly I saw a great light from heaven shining round me.

⁷ And when I went down on the earth, a voice came to my ears saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me so cruelly?

⁸ And I, answering, said, Who are you; Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are attacking.

⁹ And those who were with me saw the light, but the voice of him who was talking to me came not to their ears.

¹⁰ And I said, What have I to do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Get up, and go into Damascus; and it will be made clear to you what you have to do.

¹¹ And because I was unable to see because of the glory of that light, those who were with me took me by the hand, and so I came to Damascus.

¹² And one Ananias, a God-fearing man, who kept the law, and of whom all the Jews in that place had a high opinion,

¹³ Came to my side and said, Brother Saul, let your eyes be open. And in that very hour I was able to see him.

¹⁴ And he said, You have been marked out by the God of our fathers to have knowledge of his purpose, and to see the Upright One and to give ear to the words of his mouth.

¹⁵ For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and of what has come to your ears.

¹⁶ And now, why are you waiting? get up, and have baptism, for the washing away of your sins, giving worship to his name.

¹⁷ And it came about that when I had come back to Jerusalem, while I was at prayer in the Temple, my senses became more than naturally clear,

¹⁸ And I saw him saying to me, Go out of Jerusalem straight away because they will not give hearing to your witness about me.

¹⁹ And I said, Lord, they themselves have knowledge that I went through the Synagogues putting in prison and whipping all those who had faith in you:

²⁰ And when Stephen your witness was put to death, I was there, giving approval, and looking after the clothing of those who put him to death.

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

²² And they gave him a hearing as far as this word; then with loud voices they said, Away with this man from the earth; it is not right for him to be living.

²³ And while they were crying out, and pulling off their clothing, and sending dust into the air,

²⁴ The chief captain gave orders for him to be taken into the army building, saying that he would put him to the test by whipping, so that he might have knowledge of the reason why they were crying out so violently against him.

²⁵ And when they had put leather bands round him, Paul said to the captain who was present, Is it the law for you to give blows to a man who is a Roman and has not been judged?

²⁶ And hearing this, the man went to the chief captain and gave him an account of it, saying, What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.

²⁷ And the chief captain came to him and said, Give me an answer, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes.

²⁸ And the chief captain said, I got Roman rights for myself at a great price. And Paul said, But I had them by birth.

²⁹ Then those who were about to put him to the test went away: and the chief captain was in fear, seeing that he was a Roman, and that he had put chains on him.

³⁰ But on the day after, desiring to have certain knowledge of what the Jews had to say against him, he made him free, and gave orders for the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to come together, and he took Paul and put him before them.