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

“ Brethren and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”

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 was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he said,

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 brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.

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

I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,

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 also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to 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 it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around 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 are you persecuting 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 answered, ‘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.

And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.

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 said, ‘ What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been 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.

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

“A certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived 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 me, and standing near said to me, ‘ Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very time I looked up at 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 fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth.

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

For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what 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.

Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’

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,

“It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance,

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 saying to me, ‘ Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept 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 understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in 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 Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.’

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

And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”

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.

They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “ Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!”

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

And as they were crying out and throwing off their cloaks and tossing 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 commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, stating that he should be examined by scourging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way.

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 stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman 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 this, he went to the commander and told him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.”

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

The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” 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 commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.”

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.

Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because 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 on the next day, wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Council to assemble, and brought Paul down and set him before them.