from Crossway1“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” (Ac 7:2)2And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language,[1] they became even more quiet. And he said: (Ac 21:40)3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel[2] according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. (De 33:3; 2Ki 4:38; Lu 10:39; Joh 16:2; Ac 5:34; Ac 9:11; Ac 21:20; Ac 21:39; Ac 26:5; Ro 10:2; Ro 11:1; 2Co 11:22; Php 3:5; Php 3:6)4I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, (Ac 5:20; Ac 8:1; Ac 8:3; Ac 9:2; Ac 22:19; Ac 22:20; Ac 26:10)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. (Lu 22:66; Ac 9:1; Ac 28:21; 1Ti 4:14)6“As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. (Ac 9:3; Ac 26:12)7And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’8And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ (Ac 26:9)9Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand[3] the voice of the one who was speaking to me. (Da 10:7; Ac 9:7)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.’ (Ac 16:30)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.12“And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, (Ac 9:10; Ac 10:22; Ac 24:14)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. (Ac 9:17; Ac 9:18)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; (Ac 3:13; Ac 3:14; Ac 9:15; Ac 9:17; Ac 22:15; Ac 22:18; Ac 26:16; 1Co 9:1; 1Co 15:8; Ga 1:12)15for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. (Ac 4:20; Ac 22:14; Ac 23:11)16And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ (Ps 51:2; Ac 2:38; Ac 9:14; Ac 9:18; 1Co 6:11; Heb 10:22)17“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance (Lu 18:10; Ac 3:1; Ac 9:26; Ac 10:10; Ac 11:5; Ac 26:20; 2Co 12:1)18and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ (Ac 9:29)19And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. (Mt 10:17; Ac 22:4; Ac 26:11)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.’ (Ac 7:58; Ac 8:1; Ac 26:10; Ro 1:32; Re 2:13)21And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” (Ac 2:39; Ac 9:15)
Paul and the Roman Tribune
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.” (Ac 21:36; Ac 25:24)23And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging 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. (Ac 21:34; Ac 22:29; Ac 23:10)25But when they had stretched him out for the whips,[4] 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?” (Ac 16:37)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.”27So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.”28The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.”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. (Ac 16:38; Ac 21:33; Ac 22:24; Ac 23:27)
Paul Before the Council
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. (Ac 22:24; Ac 23:28)
Acts 22
New International Version
from Biblica1‘Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defence.’2When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said:3‘I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.4I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,5as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.6‘About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.7I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, “Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?”8‘ “Who are you, Lord?” I asked. ‘ “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.9My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.10‘ “What shall I do, Lord?” I asked. ‘ “Get up,” the Lord said, “and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.”11My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.12‘A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.13He stood beside me and said, “Brother Saul, receive your sight!” And at that very moment I was able to see him.14‘Then he said: “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth.15You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.16And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”17‘When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance18and saw the Lord speaking to me. “Quick!” he said. “Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.”19‘ “Lord,” I replied, “these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you.20And when the blood of your martyr[1] Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.”21‘Then the Lord said to me, “Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.” ’
Paul the Roman citizen
22The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, ‘Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!’23As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,24the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.25As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, ‘Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?’26When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. ‘What are you going to do?’ he asked. ‘This man is a Roman citizen.’27The commander went to Paul and asked, ‘Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?’ ‘Yes, I am,’ he answered.28Then the commander said, ‘I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.’ ‘But I was born a citizen,’ Paul replied.29Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realised that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.
Paul before the Sanhedrin
30The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and set him before them.
Acts 22
New International Reader’s Version
from Biblica1‘Brothers and fathers,’ Paul began, ‘listen to me now. I want to give you reasons for my actions.’2When they heard that he was speaking to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said,3‘I am a Jew. I was born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but I grew up here in Jerusalem. I studied with Gamaliel. I was well trained by him in the law given to our people long ago. I wanted to serve God as much as any of you do today.4I hurt the followers of the Way of Jesus. I sent many of them to their death. I arrested men and women. I threw them into prison.5The high priest and the whole Council can be witnesses of this themselves. I even had some official letters they had written to their friends in Damascus. So I went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.6‘I had almost reached Damascus. About noon a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.7I fell to the ground and heard a voice speak to me. “Saul! Saul!” it said. “Why are you opposing me?”8‘ “Who are you, Lord?” I asked. ‘ “I am Jesus of Nazareth,” he replied. “I am the one you are opposing.”9The light was seen by my companions. But they didn’t understand the voice of the one speaking to me.10‘ “What should I do, Lord?” I asked. ‘ “Get up”, the Lord said. “Go into Damascus. There you will be told everything you have been given to do.”11The brightness of the light had blinded me. So my companions led me by the hand into Damascus.12‘A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a godly Jew who obeyed the law. All the Jews living there respected him very much.13He stood beside me and said, “Brother Saul, receive your sight!” At that very moment I was able to see him.14‘Then he said, “The God of our people has chosen you. He wanted to tell you his plans for you. You have seen the Blameless One. You have heard words from his mouth.15Now you will tell everyone about what you have seen and heard.16So what are you waiting for? Get up and call on his name. Be baptised. Have your sins washed away.”17‘I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple. Then it seemed to me that I was dreaming.18I saw the Lord speaking to me. “Quick!” he said. “Leave Jerusalem at once. The people here will not accept what you tell them about me.”19‘ “Lord”, I replied, “these people know what I used to do. I went from one synagogue to another and put believers in prison. I also beat them.20Stephen was a man who told other people about you. I stood there when he was killed. I had agreed that he should die. I even guarded the coats of those who were killing him.”21‘Then the Lord said to me, “Go. I will send you far away to people who are not Jews.” ’
Paul the Roman citizen
22The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they shouted, ‘Kill him! He isn’t fit to live!’23They shouted and threw off their coats. They threw dust into the air.24So the commanding officer ordered that Paul be taken into the fort. He gave orders for Paul to be whipped and questioned. He wanted to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.25A commander was standing there as they stretched Paul out to be whipped. Paul said to him, ‘Does the law allow you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?’26When the commander heard this, he went to the commanding officer and reported it. ‘What are you going to do?’ the commander asked. ‘This man is a Roman citizen.’27So the commanding officer went to Paul. ‘Tell me’, he asked. ‘Are you a Roman citizen?’ ‘Yes, I am,’ Paul answered.28Then the officer said, ‘I had to pay a lot of money to become a citizen.’ ‘But I was born a citizen,’ Paul replied.29Right away those who were about to question him left. Even the officer was alarmed. He realised that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.
Paul is taken to the Sanhedrin
30The commanding officer wanted to find out exactly what the Jews had against Paul. So the next day he let Paul out of prison. He ordered a meeting of the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin. Then he brought Paul and had him stand in front of them.
Acts 22
King James Version
1Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.2(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)3I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.4And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.5As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.6And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.7And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?8And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.9And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.10And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.11And 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.12And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,13Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.14And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.15For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.17And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;18And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.19And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:20And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.21And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.22And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.23And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,24The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.25And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?26When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.27Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.28And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.29Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.30On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
2Als sie hörten, dass er in hebräischer Sprache zu ihnen redete, waren sie noch ruhiger. Und er sagte:3Ich bin ein Jude, geboren in Tarsus in Kilikien, hier in dieser Stadt erzogen, zu Füßen Gamaliëls genau nach dem Gesetz der Väter ausgebildet, ein Eiferer für Gott, wie ihr alle es heute seid. (Ac 5:34; Ac 9:1; Ac 21:39; Ac 26:9; Ro 10:2; 2Co 11:22; Ga 1:14; Php 3:5)4Ich habe diesen Weg bis auf den Tod verfolgt, habe Männer und Frauen gefesselt und in die Gefängnisse eingeliefert. (Ac 8:3; Ac 9:2; Ac 18:25; Ac 19:9; Ac 24:14)5Das bezeugen mir der Hohepriester und der ganze Rat der Ältesten. Von ihnen erhielt ich auch Briefe an die Brüder und begab mich nach Damaskus, um auch jene, die dort waren, zu fesseln und zur Bestrafung nach Jerusalem zu bringen. (Ac 9:1)6Als ich nun unterwegs war und mich Damaskus näherte, da geschah es, dass mich um die Mittagszeit plötzlich vom Himmel her ein helles Licht umstrahlte.7Ich stürzte zu Boden und hörte eine Stimme zu mir sagen: Saul, Saul, warum verfolgst du mich?8Ich antwortete: Wer bist du, Herr? Er sagte zu mir: Ich bin Jesus, der Nazoräer, den du verfolgst.9Meine Begleiter sahen zwar das Licht, die Stimme dessen aber, der zu mir sprach, hörten sie nicht.10Ich sagte: Herr, was soll ich tun? Der Herr antwortete: Steh auf und geh nach Damaskus, dort wird dir alles gesagt werden, was dir zu tun bestimmt ist.11Da ich aber vom Glanz jenes Lichtes geblendet war, sodass ich nicht mehr sehen konnte, wurde ich von meinen Begleitern an der Hand geführt und gelangte so nach Damaskus.12Ein gewisser Hananias, ein frommer Mann nach dem Gesetz, der bei allen Juden dort in gutem Ruf stand,13kam zu mir, trat vor mich und sagte: Bruder Saul, du sollst wieder sehen! Und im gleichen Augenblick konnte ich ihn sehen.14Er sagte: Der Gott unserer Väter hat dich dazu erwählt, seinen Willen zu erkennen, den Gerechten zu sehen und die Stimme seines Mundes zu hören;15denn du wirst vor allen Menschen sein Zeuge sein für das, was du gesehen und gehört hast.16Was zögerst du jetzt? Steh auf, lass dich taufen und deine Sünden abwaschen und rufe seinen Namen an!17Es geschah aber, als ich nach Jerusalem zurückgekehrt war und im Tempel betete, dass ich in eine Verzückung geriet. (Ac 9:26; Ga 1:18)18Und ich sah ihn, wie er zu mir sagte: Beeil dich, verlasse sofort Jerusalem; denn sie werden dein Zeugnis über mich nicht annehmen.19Da sagte ich: Herr, sie wissen doch, dass ich es war, der jene, die an dich glauben, ins Gefängnis werfen und in den Synagogen auspeitschen ließ. (Ac 22:4)20Auch als das Blut deines Zeugen Stephanus vergossen wurde, stand ich dabei; ich stimmte zu und passte auf die Kleider derer auf, die ihn umbrachten. (Ac 7:58; Ac 8:1)21Aber er sagte zu mir: Brich auf, denn ich will dich in die Ferne zu den Heiden senden! (Ac 9:15; Ac 13:2; Ac 26:16; Ro 1:5; Ga 2:7)
Paulus und der römische Oberst
22Bis zu diesem Wort hörten sie ihm zu, dann fingen sie an zu schreien: Weg vom Erdboden mit so einem Menschen! Er darf nicht am Leben bleiben. (1Co 4:13)23Sie lärmten, zerrissen ihre Kleider und warfen Staub in die Luft.24Da befahl der Oberst, ihn in die Kaserne zu führen, und ordnete an, ihn unter Geißelschlägen zu verhören. Auf diese Weise wollte er herausfinden, warum sie derart gegen ihn tobten.25Als sie ihn aber für die Geißelung festbanden, sagte Paulus zu dem Hauptmann, der dabeistand: Dürft ihr jemand, der das römische Bürgerrecht besitzt, geißeln, noch dazu ohne Verurteilung? (Ac 16:37; Ac 23:27)26Als der Hauptmann das hörte, ging er zum Obersten, meldete es und sagte: Was hast du vor? Der Mann ist Römer.27Der Oberst kam zu Paulus und fragte ihn: Sag mir, bist du wirklich Römer? Er antwortete: Ja.28Da antwortete der Oberst: Ich habe für dieses Bürgerrecht ein Vermögen gezahlt. Paulus sagte: Ich aber bin als Römer geboren.29Sofort ließen die, welche ihn verhören sollten, von ihm ab. Und der Oberst ängstigte sich, weil er bedachte, dass es ein Römer war und er ihn hatte fesseln lassen. (Ac 16:38)
Paulus vor dem Hohen Rat
30Weil er genau wissen wollte, was die Juden ihm vorwarfen, ließ er ihn am nächsten Tag aus dem Gefängnis holen und befahl, die Hohepriester und der ganze Hohe Rat sollten sich versammeln. Und er ließ Paulus hinunterführen und ihnen gegenüberstellen.