1 « Padres y hermanos míos, escuchen ahora lo que tengo que decir en mi defensa.»

“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.”

2 A l oír que les hablaba en lengua aramea, todos guardaron silencio. Pablo siguió diciendo:

And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said:

3 « Yo soy judío. Nací en Tarso de Cilicia, pero me criaron en esta ciudad, donde Gamaliel me instruyó con total apego a la ley de nuestros antepasados. El celo por Dios que ustedes sienten hoy, también lo sentí yo,

“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.

4 p ues perseguí a muerte a los de este Camino. Yo aprehendía y llevaba a las cárceles a hombres y mujeres;

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

5 e l sumo sacerdote y todos los ancianos me dieron cartas para apresar a los hermanos; ellos son testigos de que fui a Damasco para aprehender a los creyentes que estuvieran allí, y llevarlos a Jerusalén para castigarlos. Pablo relata su conversión

as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 » Pero sucedió que en el camino, ya cerca de Damasco y como a mediodía, de repente me rodeó una intensa luz del cielo,

“Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.

7 C aí al suelo, y entonces 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 are you persecuting Me?’

8 Y o respondí: “¿Quién eres, Señor?” Y la voz me contestó: “Yo soy Jesús de Nazaret, a quien tú persigues.”

So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

9 L os que me acompañaban vieron la luz, y se espantaron; pero no escucharon la voz del que me hablaba.

“And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.

10 E ntonces dije: “Señor, ¿qué debo hacer?” Y el Señor me dijo: “Levántate, y ve a Damasco; allí se te dirá todo lo que se ha determinado que hagas.”

So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’

11 C omo yo no podía ver por causa de esa luz tan potente, los que me acompañaban me llevaron de la mano, y así llegué a Damasco.

And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

12 » Allí vivía Ananías, un hombre piadoso y apegado a la ley, de quien todos los judíos que allí vivían hablaban bien.

“Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,

13 A nanías vino, se me acercó y me dijo: “Hermano Saulo, ¡recibe la vista!” Y en ese mismo instante recobré la vista y pude verlo.

came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him.

14 Y él me dijo: “El Dios de nuestros padres te ha escogido para que conozcas su voluntad, y veas al Justo y escuches de sus propios labios su palabra,

Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.

15 p ues tú serás su testigo ante todo el mundo de esto que has visto y oído.

For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

16 ¿ Qué esperas, entonces? ¡Levántate y bautízate, e invoca su nombre, para que quedes limpio de tus pecados!” Pablo es enviado a los no judíos

And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

17 » Cuando volví a Jerusalén, mientras oraba yo en el templo, entré en éxtasis.

“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance

18 V i entonces al Señor, y escuché que me decía: “Date prisa, y sal pronto de Jerusalén, porque no van a creer lo que les digas de mí.”

and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’

19 Y o le respondí: “Señor, ellos saben que yo andaba por todas las sinagogas encarcelando y azotando a los que creían en ti.

So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You.

20 C uando corría la sangre de Esteban, tu testigo, yo estaba allí, aprobando su muerte con mi presencia y cuidando la ropa de quienes lo mataron.”

And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’

21 P ero el Señor me dijo: “Anda, que voy a enviarte lejos, a los que no son judíos.”» Pablo en manos del tribuno

Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ” Paul’s Roman Citizenship

22 H asta aquí lo escucharon. Entonces alzaron la voz y gritaron: «¡Mátalo! ¡Bórralo de este mundo! ¡Gente así no merece vivir!»

And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!”

23 Y se rasgaban la ropa y lanzaban polvo al aire, y no dejaban de gritar.

Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air,

24 E ntonces el tribuno mandó que llevaran a Pablo a la fortaleza, con órdenes de que lo interrogaran y lo azotaran para saber por qué protestaban contra él.

the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him.

25 C uando lo estaban atando con correas, Pablo le preguntó al centurión allí presente: «¿Acaso está permitido azotar a un ciudadano romano sin que antes se le juzgue?»

And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”

26 C uando el centurión oyó esto, fue con el tribuno y le dijo: «¿Y ahora qué vas a hacer? ¡Este hombre es ciudadano romano!»

When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.”

27 F ue entonces el tribuno y le preguntó: «Dime, ¿en verdad eres ciudadano romano?» Y como Pablo respondió que sí,

Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”

28 e l tribuno se jactó: «¡A mí me costó mucho dinero adquirir la ciudadanía!» Pero Pablo le respondió: «Yo soy romano de nacimiento.»

The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen. ”

29 A l saber que Pablo era ciudadano romano, los que iban a interrogarlo se apartaron de él, y el tribuno hizo lo mismo, pues tuvo miedo de haber ordenado que lo interrogaran. Pablo ante el concilio

Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. The Sanhedrin Divided

30 A l día siguiente, el tribuno quiso saber por qué realmente lo acusaban los judíos, así que ordenó que le quitaran las cadenas, y también que se presentaran los principales sacerdotes y el concilio. Luego sacó a Pablo, y lo hizo comparecer ante ellos.

The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.