Paul’s Defense to the Crowd
(Acts 9:1–19; Acts 26:1–23)

1Men, brethren, and fathers, hear my defence to you.

2(And having heard that he spake to them in Hebrew dialect, they held more silence: and he says,)

3I am truly a Jew, a man born in Tarsus, of Cilicia, and brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the exactness of the fathers' law, being zealous of God, as all ye are this day. 4Who drove out this way even to death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women. 5As also the chief priest testifies of me, and all the council of elders: and whose letters to the brethren having received, I went to Damascus, going to bring there the bound to Jerusalem, that they might be punished.

6And it was to me going, and drawing near to Damascus about noon, suddenly much light from heaven flashed around me, 7And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice, Saul, Saul, why drivest thou me out? 8And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarite, whom thou drivest out. 9And they being with me truly saw the light, and were terrified; but they heard not the voice of him speaking to me. 10And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Having risen, go to Damascus; and there shall be told thee of all which has been arranged for thee to do. 11And when I saw not from the glory of that light, led by the hand of them being with me I came to Damascus.

12And a certain Ananias, a religious man according to the law, testified of by all the Jews dwelling, 13Having come to me, and stood, said to me, Brother Saul, look up. And the same hour I looked up to him. 14And he said, The God of our fathers took thee in hand, to know his will, and to see the Just, and hear the voice from his mouth. 15For thou shalt be a witness for him to all men of what thou hast seen and hast heard. 16And now what art thou about to do having risen, be immersed and wash away thy sins, having called upon the name of the Lord.

17And it was to me returning to Jerusalem, and praying in the temple, I was in a deep trance: 18And saw him saying to me, Hasten, and come quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony of me. 19And I said, Lord, these know that I was imprisoning and skinning in the synagogues them believing on thee: 20And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I myself was standing by, and assenting to his murder, and watching the garments of them murdering him. 21And he said to me, Go: for I will send thee far off to the nations.

Paul the Roman Citizen

22And they heard him to this word, and lifted up their voices, saying, Take away such a one from the earth: for it is not suitable for him to live. 23And they vociferating, and casting garments away, and throwing a cloud of dust into the air, 24The captain of a thousand commanded him to be brought to the camp, having spoken to examine him by scourges; that he might know for what cause they exclaimed so against him. 25And as he held him before with thongs, Paul said to the centurion standing by, Is it lawful to scourge a man a Roman, and uncondemned? 26And the centurion having heard, having come near announced to the captain of a thousand, See what thou art about to do: for this man is a Roman. 27And the captain of a thousand having come near, said to him, Tell me if thou art a Roman. And he said, Yes. 28And the captain of a thousand answered, I obtained this citizenship for much capital. And Paul said, And I have been born. 29Then quickly they about to examine him withdrew from him: and the captain of a thousand was afraid, knowing that he is a Roman, and because he had bound him.

30And on the morrow, wishing to know the certainty that why he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him from bonds, and commanded the chief priests and the whole of their council to come, and having brought down Paul, he set him among them.