English Standard Version

Berean Study Bible

1“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”

2And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:

2When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more silent. Then Paul declared,

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.

3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.

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

4I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison,

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.

5as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.

6“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me.

6About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.

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

7I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’

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

8‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.

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

9My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.

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.’

10Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’

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.

11Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me, my companions led me by the hand into Damascus.

12“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,

12There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,

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.

13came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him.

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;

14Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear His voice.

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

15You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

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

16And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’

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

17Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance

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

18and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’

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

19‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.

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.’

20And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’

21And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

21Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”

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.”

22The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”

23And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,

23As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,

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.

24the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him.

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?”

25But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”

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.”

26On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

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

27The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered.

28The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.”

28“I paid a high price for my citizenship,” said the commander. “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

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.

29Then those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.

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.

30The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

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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