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

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

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

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

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.

“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.

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.

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

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

de 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.

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

“ 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.’

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.’

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.

“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.

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

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

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

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

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.

“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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!’

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

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

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

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.’

Cuando 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.’

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

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

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!”

La 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.”

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

Como ellos vociferaban, y arrojaban sus mantos, y echaban polvo al aire,

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.

el 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.

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?”

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

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.”

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

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

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

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.”

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

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

Entonces 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)

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.

Al 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.