New King James Version

New Living Translation

1“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.”

1“Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said, “listen to me as I offer my defense.”

2And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said:

2When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater.

3“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.

3Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today.

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

4And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.

5as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

5The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers of the Way from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished.

6“Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.

6“As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down 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 saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

8So 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. “And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’

9“And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.

9The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.

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

10“I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’

11And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

11“I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions.

12“Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,

12A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus.

13came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him.

13He came and stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him!

14Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.

14“Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak.

15For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

15For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.

16And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

16What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’

17“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance

17“After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance.

18and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’

18I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’

19So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You.

19“‘But Lord,’ I argued, ‘they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.

20And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’

20And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’

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

21“But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’ ”

22And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!”

22The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, “Away with such a fellow! He isn’t fit to live!”

23Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air,

23They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air. Paul Reveals His Roman Citizenship

24the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him.

24The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime. He wanted to find out why the crowd had become so furious.

25And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”

25When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?”

26When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.”

26When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!”

27Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.”

27So the commander went over and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I certainly am,” Paul replied.

28The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”

28“I am, too,” the commander muttered, “and it cost me plenty!” Paul answered, “But I am a citizen by birth!”

29Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

29The soldiers who were about to interrogate Paul quickly withdrew when they heard he was a Roman citizen, and the commander was frightened because he had ordered him bound and whipped. Paul before the High Council

30The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

30The next day the commander ordered the leading priests into session with the Jewish high council. He wanted to find out what the trouble was all about, so he released Paul to have him stand before them.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.