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

Brethren and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make in your presence.

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

And when they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew tongue, they were all the more quiet. And he continued,

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:

I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but reared in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated according to the strictest care in the Law of our fathers, being ardent for God, as all of you are today.

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

I harassed (troubled, molested, and persecuted) this Way to the death, putting in chains and committing to prison both men and women,

5 A s 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.

As the high priest and whole council of elders (Sanhedrin) can testify; for from them indeed I received letters with which I was on my way to the brethren in Damascus in order to take also those who were there, and bring them in chains to Jerusalem that they might be punished.

6 A nd 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.

But as I was on my journey and approached Damascus, about noon a great blaze of light flashed suddenly from heaven and shone about me.

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

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

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

And I replied, Who are You, Lord? And He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, Whom you are persecuting.

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

Now the men who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear '> the sound of the uttered words of] the voice of the One Who was speaking to me '> understand it].

10 A nd 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 I asked, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord answered me, Get up and go into Damascus, and there it will be told you all that it is destined and appointed for you to do.

11 A nd 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 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 I arrived in Damascus.

12 A nd one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there,

And one Ananias, a devout man according to the Law, well spoken of by all the Jews who resided there,

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

Came to see me, and standing by my side said to me, Brother Saul, look up and receive back your sight. And in that very instant I looking up saw him.

14 A nd 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.

And he said, The God of our forefathers has destined and appointed you to come progressively to know His will, and to see the Righteous One (Jesus Christ, the Messiah), and to hear a voice from His mouth and a message from His lips;

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

For you will be His witness unto all men of everything that you have seen and heard.

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

And now, why do you delay? Rise and be baptized, and by calling upon His name, wash away your sins.

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

Then when I had come back to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple '> enclosure], I fell into a trance (an ecstasy);

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

And I saw Him as He said to me, Hurry, get quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony about Me.

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

And I said, Lord, they themselves well know that throughout all the synagogues I cast into prison and flogged those who believed on (adhered to and trusted in and relied on) You.

20 a nd 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.

And when the blood of Your witness (martyr) Stephen was shed, I also was personally standing by and consenting and approving and guarding the garments of those who slew him.

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

And the Lord said to me, Go, for I will send you far away unto the Gentiles (nations).

22 A nd 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.

Up to the moment that Paul made this last statement, the people listened to him; but now they raised their voices and shouted, Away with such a fellow from the earth! He is not fit to live!

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

And as they were shouting and tossing and waving their garments and throwing dust into the air,

24 t he 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.

The commandant ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks, and that he be examined by scourging in order that might learn why the people cried out thus against him.

25 A nd 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?

But when they had stretched him out with the thongs (leather straps), Paul asked the centurion who was standing by, Is it legal for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned ?

26 A nd 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.

When the centurion heard that, he went to the commandant and said to him, What are you about to do? This man is a Roman citizen!

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

So the commandant came and said to, Tell me, are you a Roman citizen? And he said, Yes!

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

The commandant replied, I purchased this citizenship for a big price. Paul said, But I was born!

29 T hey 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.

Instantly those who were about to examine and flog him withdrew from him; and the commandant also was frightened, for he realized that was a Roman citizen and he had put him in chains.

30 B ut 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.

But the next day, desiring to know the real cause for which the Jews accused him, he unbound him and ordered the chief priests and all the council (Sanhedrin) to assemble; and he brought Paul down and placed him before them.