1 “ Hermanos y padres, escuchen mi defensa que ahora presento ante ustedes,” decía Pablo.

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

2 C uando oyeron que se dirigía a ellos en el idioma Hebreo, observaron aún más silencio. El continuó: Pablo da Testimonio de su Conversión

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

3 “ Yo soy Judío, nacido en Tarso de Cilicia, pero criado en esta ciudad, educado bajo Gamaliel en estricta conformidad a la ley de nuestros padres, siendo tan celoso de Dios como todos ustedes lo son hoy.

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 P erseguí este Camino hasta la muerte, encadenando y echando en cárceles tanto a hombres como a mujeres,

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

5 d e lo cual pueden testificar el sumo sacerdote y todo el Concilio (Sanedrín) de los ancianos. De ellos recibí cartas para los hermanos (Judíos), y me puse en marcha para Damasco con el fin de traer presos a Jerusalén también a los (creyentes) que estaban allá, para que fueran castigados.

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 “ Y aconteció que cuando iba de camino, estando ya cerca de Damasco, como al mediodía, de repente una luz muy brillante fulguró desde el cielo a mi alrededor.

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 C aí al suelo y oí una voz que me decía: ‘Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué Me persigues?’

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

8 Y respondí: ‘¿Quién eres, Señor?’ Y El me dijo: ‘Yo soy Jesús el Nazareno, a quien tú persigues.’

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

9 “ Los que estaban conmigo vieron la luz, ciertamente, pero no comprendieron la voz de Aquél que me hablaba.

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 Y yo dije: ‘¿Qué debo hacer, Señor?’ Y el Señor me dijo: ‘Levántate y entra a Damasco; y allí se te dirá todo lo que se ha ordenado que hagas.’

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 “ Pero como yo no veía por causa del resplandor (de la gloria) de aquella luz, los que estaban conmigo me llevaron de la mano y entré a Damasco.

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 “ Y uno llamado Ananías, hombre piadoso según las normas de la Ley, y de quien daban buen testimonio todos los Judíos que vivían allí,

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

13 v ino a mí, y poniéndose a mi lado, me dijo: ‘Hermano Saulo, recibe la vista.’ En ese mismo instante alcé los ojos y lo miré.

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 “ Y él dijo: ‘El Dios de nuestros padres (antepasados) te ha designado para que conozcas Su voluntad, y para que veas al Justo y oigas palabra de Su boca.

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 P orque tú serás testigo Suyo a todos los hombres de lo que has visto y oído.

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

16 Y ahora, ¿por qué te detienes? Levántate y bautízate, y lava tus pecados invocando Su nombre.’

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

17 “ Cuando regresé a Jerusalén y me hallaba orando en el templo, caí en un éxtasis,

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

18 y vi al Señor que me decía: ‘Apresúrate y sal pronto de Jerusalén porque no aceptarán tu testimonio acerca de Mí.’

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 “ Entonces yo dije: ‘Señor, ellos saben bien que en las sinagogas, una tras otra, yo encarcelaba y azotaba a los que creían en Ti.

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 C uando se derramaba la sangre de Tu testigo Esteban (mártir), allí estaba también yo dando mi aprobación, y cuidando los mantos de los que lo estaban matando.’

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 P ero El me dijo: ‘Ve, porque te voy a enviar lejos, a los Gentiles.’” Pablo bajo Vigilancia del Comandante

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

22 L a multitud lo oyó hasta que dijo esto, entonces alzaron sus voces y dijeron: “¡Quita de la tierra a ese hombre! No se le debe permitir que viva.”

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 C omo ellos vociferaban, y arrojaban sus mantos, y echaban polvo al aire,

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

24 e l comandante ordenó que llevaran a Pablo al cuartel, diciendo que debía ser sometido a azotes para saber la razón por qué la gente gritaban contra él de aquella manera.

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 C uando lo estiraron con correas, Pablo dijo al centurión que estaba allí: “¿Les es lícito azotar a un ciudadano Romano sin haberle hecho juicio?”

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 l oír esto el centurión, fue al comandante y le avisó: “¿Qué vas a hacer? Porque este hombre es ciudadano Romano.”

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 V ino el comandante a Pablo y le dijo: “Dime, ¿eres ciudadano Romano?” “Sí,” contestó él.

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

28 Y el comandante respondió: “Yo adquirí esta ciudadanía por una gran cantidad de dinero.” “Pero yo soy ciudadano Romano de nacimiento,” le dijo Pablo.

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

29 E ntonces los que iban a someterlo a azotes, al instante lo soltaron. También el comandante tuvo temor cuando supo que Pablo era ciudadano Romano, y porque lo había atado con cadenas. Pablo ante el Concilio (Sanedrín)

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 A l día siguiente, queriendo el comandante saber con certeza la causa por la cual los Judíos lo acusaban a Pablo, lo soltó, y ordenó a los principales sacerdotes y a todo el Concilio (Sanedrín) que se reunieran. Después llevó a Pablo y lo puso ante ellos.

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.