Acts 22
1
Brethren and fathers, hear you the defence which I now make to you.
2
And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were the more
quiet: and he says,
3
I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of
Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being
zealous for God, even as you all are this day:
4
and I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men
and women.
5
As also the high priest does bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from
whom also I received letters to the brethren, and journeyed to Damascus to bring them
also that were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
6
And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and drew nigh to Damascus, about
noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
7
And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecute
you me?
8
And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom
you persecute.
9
And they that were with me beheld indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of
him whom spoke to me.
10
And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go into Damascus;
and there it shall be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do.
11
And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them
that were with me I came into Damascus.
12
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews
that dwelt there,
13
came to me, and standing by me said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And in
that very hour I looked up on him.
14
And he said, The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see
the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.
15
For you shall be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.
16
And now why tarry you? arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on
his name.
17
And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in
the temple, I fell into a trance,
18
and saw him saying to me, Make haste, and get you quickly out of Jerusalem; because
they will not receive of you testimony concerning me.
19
And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue
them that believed on you:
20
and when the blood of Stephen your witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting,
and keeping the garments of them that slew him.
21
And he said to me, Depart: for I will send you forth far hence to the Gentiles.
22
And they gave him audience to this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said,
Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
23
And as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,
24
the chief captain commanded him be brought into the castle, bidding that he should
be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against
him.
25
And when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion that stood
by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
26
And when the centurion heard it, he went to the chief captain and told him, saying,
What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.
27
And the chief captain came and said to him, Tell me, are you a Roman? And he said,
Yea.
28
And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And
Paul said, But I am [a Roman] born.
29
They then that were about to examine him straightway departed from him: and the chief
captain also was afraid when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound
him.
30
But on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty wherefore he was accused of the
Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together,
and brought Paul down and set him before them.