| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | English Standard Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11And 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 came into Damascus. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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