1 P aul said, “Brothers and fathers, listen to what I have to say to you.”

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

2 W hen they heard him speak to them in their own language, they stopped making noise. Then he said,

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. I was born in the city of Tarsus in the country of Cilicia. When I was a young man, I lived here in Jerusalem. I went to Gamaliel’s school and learned all about the Law of our early fathers. I worked hard for God as you all do today.

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 “ I worked hard and killed men and women who believed as I believe today. I put them in chains and sent them to prison.

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

5 T he head religious leader and the leaders of the people can tell you this is true. I got letters from them to take to our Jewish brothers in the city of Damascus. I was going there to put the Christians in chains and bring them to Jerusalem where they would be beaten. The Change in Paul’s Life on the Damascus Road

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 “ I was near Damascus. All at once, about noon, I saw a bright light from heaven shining around me.

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 I fell to the ground. A voice said to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you work so hard against Me?’

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

8 I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the One you are working against.’

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

9 T hose who were with me saw the light. But they did not hear Him speaking to me.

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

10 I asked, ‘Lord, what should I do?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up! Go to Damascus. You will be told what to do there.’

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 “ I could not see because of the bright light. Those who were with me had to lead me by the hand until we came to Damascus.

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 A nanias lived there. He obeyed the Law and was respected by all the Jews.

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

13 H e came and stood near me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ At once I was able to see him.

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 T hen Ananias said, ‘The God of our fathers chose you to know what He wants done. He chose you to see Jesus Christ, the One Right with God, and to hear His voice.

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 Y ou are to tell all men what you have seen and heard.

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

16 W hat are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on His name.’ Paul Is Called to Work with the People Who Are Not Jews

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

17 “ I came back to Jerusalem. When I was praying in the house of God, I had a dream.

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 I saw Him as He said to me, ‘Get out of Jerusalem! They will not listen to you when you tell them about Me!’

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 I said, ‘Lord, they know I took Christians out of every Jewish place of worship. I had them beaten and put in prison.

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

20 A lso when Stephen was killed, I stood there and watched them throw stones at him. Those who threw the stones had me watch their coats.’

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 T he Lord said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the people who are not Jews.’ ”

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

22 T hey listened to him until he said that. Then they all cried out with loud voices, “Kill him! Take such a man from the earth! He should not live!”

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 T hey kept on calling out. Then they pulled off their coats and threw dust in the air. Paul Tells Who He Is

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

24 T he captain told them to bring Paul into the soldiers’ building. He told his soldiers to find out from Paul, by beating him, why the people were crying out against him.

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 A s they tied him up, Paul said to the soldier, “Does the law say that you can beat a Roman citizen when no one has said he is guilty?”

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 W hen the soldier heard this, he told it to the captain. He said, “Listen! What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen.”

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 T he captain came and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” Paul said, “Yes!”

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

28 T he captain said, “I had to pay a lot of money to be a citizen.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.”

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

29 T hose who were going to beat him left him at once. The captain was also afraid when he heard that Paul was a Roman citizen because he had him tied. Paul Stands in Front of the Religious Leaders’ Court

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 T he next day they took off the chains that were holding Paul. The captain wanted to know why the Jews wanted to kill him. So the captain told the head religious leaders to gather for their court. They brought Paul and put him in front of them.

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.