Parallel Bible results for "acts 22"

Acts 22

Common English Bible CEB

1 "Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense."

2 When they heard him address them in Aramaic, they became even more quiet.

3 Paul continued, “I'm a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia but raised in this city. Under Gamaliel's instruction, I was trained in the strict interpretation of our ancestral Law. I am passionately loyal to God, just like you who are gathered here today.

4 I harassed those who followed this Way to their death, arresting and delivering both men and women into prison.

5 The high priest and the whole Jerusalem Council can testify about me. I received letters from them, addressed to our associates in Damascus, then went there to bring those who were arrested to Jerusalem so they could be punished.

6 “During that journey, about noon, as I approached Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven encircled me.

7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice asking me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me?'

8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?' ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are harassing,' he replied.

9 My traveling companions saw the light, but they didn't hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.

10 I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?' ‘Get up,' the Lord replied, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told everything you have been appointed to do.'

11 I couldn't see because of the brightness of that light, so my companions led me by the hand into Damascus.

12 “There was a certain man named Ananias. According to the standards of the Law, he was a pious man who enjoyed the respect of all the Jews living there.

13 He came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!' he said. Instantly, I regained my sight and I could see him.

14 He said, ‘The God of our ancestors has selected you to know his will, to see the righteous one, and to hear his voice.

15 You will be his witness to everyone concerning what you have seen and heard.

16 What are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins as you call on his name.'

17 "When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I had a visionary experience.

18 I saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Hurry!' he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem at once because they won't accept your testimony about me.'

19 I responded, ‘Lord, these people know I used to go from one synagogue to the next, beating those who believe in you and throwing them into prison.

20 When Stephen your witness was being killed, I stood there giving my approval, even watching the clothes that belonged to those who were killing him.'

21 Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"

22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they shouted, "Away with this man! He's not fit to live!"

23 As they were screaming, throwing off their garments, and flinging dust into the air,

24 the commander directed that Paul be taken into the military headquarters. He ordered that Paul be questioned under the whip so that he could find out why they were shouting at him like this.

25 As they were stretching him out and tying him down with straps, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Can you legally whip a Roman citizen who hasn't been found guilty in court?"

26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. He asked, "What are you about to do? This man is a Roman citizen!"

27 The commander went to Paul and demanded, "Tell me! Are you a Roman citizen?" He said, "Yes."

28 The commander replied, "It cost me a lot of money to buy my citizenship." Paul said, "I'm a citizen by birth."

29 At once those who were about to examine him stepped away. The commander was alarmed when he realized he had bound a Roman citizen.

30 The commander still wanted to know the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews. Therefore, the next day he ordered the chief priests and the entire Jerusalem Council to assemble. Then he took Paul out of prison and had him stand before them.

Revised Standard Version RSV

1 "Brethren and fathers, hear the defense which I now make before you."

2 And when they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet. And he said:

3 "I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cili'cia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gama'li-el, educated according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all are this day.

4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,

5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brethren, and I journeyed to Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 "As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.

7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'

8 And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.'

9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

10 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.'

11 And when 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 "And one Anani'as, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,

13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And in that very hour I received my sight and saw him.

14 And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth;

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

16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'

17 "When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance

18 and saw him saying to me, 'Make haste and get quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not accept your testimony about me.'

19 And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in thee.

20 And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by and approving, and keeping the garments of those who killed him.'

21 And he said to me, 'Depart; for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"

22 Up to this word they listened to him; then they lifted up their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he ought not to live."

23 And as they cried out and waved their garments and threw dust into the air,

24 the tribune commanded him to be brought into the barracks, and ordered him to be examined by scourging, to find out why they shouted thus against him.

25 But when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?"

26 When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen."

27 So the tribune came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" And he said, "Yes."

28 The tribune answered, "I bought this citizenship for a large sum." Paul said, "But I was born a citizen."

29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him instantly; and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

30 But on the morrow, desiring to know the real reason why the Jews accused him, he unbound him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.