1 “ Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you.”

Paul said, “Brothers and fathers, listen to what I have to say to you.”

2 W hen they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said,

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

3 “ I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict tradition of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are today.

“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.

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

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

5 A s also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and traveled to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.

The 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

6 A s I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light shone around me from the sky.

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

7 I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

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

8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute.’

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

9 “ Those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they didn’t understand the voice of him who spoke to me.

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

10 I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Arise, and go into Damascus. There you will be told about all things which are appointed for you to do.’

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.’

11 W hen I couldn’t see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

“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.

12 O ne Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews who lived in Damascus,

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

13 c ame to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ In that very hour I looked up at him.

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

14 H e said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.

Then 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.

15 F or you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.

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

16 N ow why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

What 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

17 “ When I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,

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

18 a nd saw him saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.’

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

19 I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you.

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

20 W hen the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.’

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

21 “ He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”

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

22 T hey listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, “Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn’t fit to live!”

They 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!”

23 A s they cried out, and threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air,

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

24 t he commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that.

The 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.

25 W hen they had tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and not found guilty?”

As 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?”

26 W hen the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, “Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!”

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

27 T he commanding officer came and asked him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”

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

28 T he commanding officer answered, “I bought my citizenship for a great price.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.”

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

29 I mmediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.

Those 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

30 B ut on the next day, desiring to know the truth about why he was accused by the Jews, he freed him from the bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

The 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.