Acts 22 Parallel Bible Translations

Acts 22
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1 |Brothers and fathers, listen as I now present my case to you.| “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”
2 When the mob heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then Paul continued, And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said:
3 |I'm a Jew. I was born and raised in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia and received my education from Gamaliel here in Jerusalem. My education was in the strict rules handed down by our ancestors. I was as devoted to God as all of you are today. “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. “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
4 I persecuted people who followed the way [of Christ]: I tied up men and women and put them into prison until they were executed. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,
5 The chief priest and the entire council of our leaders can prove that I did this. In fact, they even gave me letters to take to the Jewish community in the city of Damascus. I was going there to tie up believers and bring them back to Jerusalem to punish them. as 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. as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 |But as I was on my way and approaching the city of Damascus about noon, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice asking me, 'Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?' And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
8 |I answered, 'Who are you, sir?' |The person told me, 'I'm Jesus from Nazareth, the one you're persecuting.' And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ “’Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. “’I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.
9 |The men who were with me saw the light but didn't understand what the person who was speaking to me said. Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
10 |Then I asked, 'What do you want me to do, Lord?' |The Lord told me, 'Get up! Go into the city of Damascus, and you'll be told everything I've arranged for you to do.' And 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.’ “’What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’
11 |I was blind because the light had been so bright. So the men who were with me led me into the city of Damascus. And 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. My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
12 |A man named Ananias lived in Damascus. He was a devout person who followed Moses' Teachings. All the Jews living in Damascus spoke highly of him. “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.
13 He came to me, stood beside me, and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' At that moment my sight came back and I could see Ananias. came 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. He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.
14 |Ananias said, 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the one who has God's approval, and to hear him speak to you. And 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; “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth.
15 You will be his witness and will tell everyone what you have seen and heard. for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.
16 What are you waiting for now? Get up! Be baptized, and have your sins washed away as you call on his name.' And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
17 |After that, I returned to Jerusalem. While I was praying in the temple courtyard, I fell into a trance “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance
18 and saw the Lord. He told me, 'Hurry! Get out of Jerusalem immediately. The people here won't accept your testimony about me.' and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’
19 |I said, 'Lord, people here know that I went from synagogue to synagogue to imprison and whip those who believe in you. And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. “’Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you.
20 When Stephen, who witnessed about you, was being killed, I was standing there. I approved of his death and guarded the coats of those who were murdering him.' And 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.’ And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
21 |But the Lord told me, 'Go! I'll send you on a mission. You'll go far away to people who aren't Jewish.'| And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
22 Up to that point the mob listened. Then they began to shout, |Kill him! The world doesn't need a man like this. He shouldn't have been allowed to live this long!| Up 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.” The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
23 The mob was yelling, taking off their coats, and throwing dirt into the air. And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,
24 So the officer ordered the soldiers to take Paul into the barracks and told them to question Paul as they whipped him. The officer wanted to find out why the people were yelling at Paul like this. the 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. the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.
25 But when the soldiers had Paul stretch out [to tie him to the whipping post] with the straps, Paul asked the sergeant who was standing there, |Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn't had a trial?| But 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?” As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”
26 When the sergeant heard this, he reported it to his commanding officer. The sergeant asked him, |What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen.| When 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.” When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
27 The officer went to Paul and asked him, |Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?| Paul answered, |Yes.| So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered.
28 The officer replied, |I paid a lot of money to become a Roman citizen.| Paul replied, |But I was born a Roman citizen.| The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.
29 Immediately, the soldiers who were going to question Paul stepped away from him. The officer was afraid when he found out that he had tied up a Roman citizen. So 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. Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.
30 The officer wanted to find out exactly what accusation the Jews had against Paul. So the officer released Paul the next day and ordered the chief priests and the entire Jewish council to meet. Then the officer brought Paul and had him stand in front of them. But 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. The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.
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