de Biblica1«Padres y hermanos, escuchen lo que tengo que decir en mi defensa».2Al oír que les hablaba en arameo, guardaron más silencio. Entonces Pablo continuó:3«Yo soy judío. Nací en Tarso de Cilicia, pero me crie en esta ciudad. Gamaliel fue mi maestro y él me enseñó la ley de nuestros antepasados. Me esforcé porque se honrara a Dios como lo hace cualquiera de ustedes hoy día.4Antes, perseguía hasta la muerte a los seguidores de este Camino, los arrestaba y los metía en la cárcel sin importarme si eran hombres o mujeres.5El jefe de los sacerdotes y todo el Consejo de ancianos son testigos de que así fue. Ellos mismos me dieron cartas para nuestros hermanos judíos en Damasco, y fui allá para traer a Jerusalén a los que encontrara, para que aquí los castigaran.6»Pero cuando iba en camino y ya me acercaba a Damasco, como a eso del mediodía, de repente una intensa luz del cielo relampagueó a mi alrededor.7Caí al suelo y escuché una voz que me decía: “Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues?”.8Yo pregunté: “¿Quién eres, Señor?”. »Él me contestó: “Yo soy Jesús de Nazaret, al que tú persigues”.9»Los que me acompañaban vieron la luz, pero no oyeron la voz que me hablaba.10Le pregunté: “¿Qué debo hacer, Señor?”. »El Señor dijo: “Levántate, y entra en Damasco. Allí te dirán todo lo que tienes que hacer”.11»Mis compañeros me llevaron de la mano hasta Damasco, porque la intensa luz me había dejado ciego.12Allí, vino a verme un hombre llamado Ananías, que obedecía la ley y a quien respetaban los judíos de Damasco.13Él se puso a mi lado y me dijo: “Hermano Saulo, ¡recibe la vista!”. Y en aquel mismo instante recobré la vista y pude verlo.14Luego me dijo: “El Dios de nuestros antepasados te ha escogido para que conozcas sus planes, y veas al Justo y oigas las palabras de su boca.15Tú serás su testigo ante todo el mundo de lo que has visto y oído.16No hay tiempo que perder. Levántate, bautízate, y lávate de tus pecados invocando su nombre”.17»Cuando regresé a Jerusalén, en el templo tuve una visión mientras oraba.18Vi al Señor que me decía: “¡Date prisa! Sal en este momento de Jerusalén, porque no creerán lo que digas acerca de mí”.19Yo le respondí: “Señor, ellos saben que yo andaba por todas las sinagogas encarcelando y azotando a los que creían en ti.20Y cuando estaban matando a Esteban, tu testigo, yo estaba allí aprobando lo que hacían y cuidando la ropa de quienes lo mataban”.21Pero el Señor me dijo: “Vete, porque yo te enviaré a naciones que están lejos” ».
Pablo el ciudadano romano
22La gente estuvo escuchando a Pablo hasta que dijo esto. Entonces gritaron: «¡Bórralo de la tierra! ¡Ese hombre no merece vivir!».23La gente seguía gritando, tirando sus ropas y arrojaba polvo al aire.24Entonces el comandante ordenó que metieran a Pablo en el cuartel y que le dieran latigazos. Quería saber por qué gritaban así contra él.25Pero cuando lo estaban sujetando con cadenas para azotarlo, Pablo le dijo al capitán de los soldados que estaba allí: —¿La ley les permite a ustedes azotar a un ciudadano romano antes de que lo juzguen?26El capitán fue y le avisó al comandante. ―¿Qué va a hacer usted? Este hombre es ciudadano romano.27El comandante fue adonde estaba Pablo y le preguntó: ―Dime, ¿es verdad que eres ciudadano romano? Pablo contestó: —Sí, lo soy.28El comandante le dijo: —Yo pagué muchísimo dinero para hacerme ciudadano romano. Pablo respondió: —Pues yo lo soy desde que nací.29Los soldados que iban a azotarlo, al oír que Pablo era ciudadano romano, se apartaron de él. El comandante mismo tuvo miedo de haberlo encadenado.
Pablo ante el Consejo
30Al día siguiente, el comandante ordenó que desataran a Pablo y se reuniera con los jefes de los sacerdotes y con el Consejo en pleno. Él quería saber exactamente de qué acusaban a Pablo los judíos, así que lo llevó para que compareciera ante ellos.
Hechos 22
English Standard Version
de Crossway1“Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” (Hch 7:2)2And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language,[1] they became even more quiet. And he said: (Hch 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. (Dt 33:3; 2 R 4:38; Lc 10:39; Jn 16:2; Hch 5:34; Hch 9:11; Hch 21:20; Hch 21:39; Hch 26:5; Ro 10:2; Ro 11:1; 2 Co 11:22; Flp 3:5; Flp 3:6)4I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, (Hch 5:20; Hch 8:1; Hch 8:3; Hch 9:2; Hch 22:19; Hch 22:20; Hch 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. (Lc 22:66; Hch 9:1; Hch 28:21; 1 Ti 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. (Hch 9:3; Hch 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.’ (Hch 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. (Dn 10:7; Hch 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.’ (Hch 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, (Hch 9:10; Hch 10:22; Hch 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. (Hch 9:17; Hch 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; (Hch 3:13; Hch 3:14; Hch 9:15; Hch 9:17; Hch 22:15; Hch 22:18; Hch 26:16; 1 Co 9:1; 1 Co 15:8; Gl 1:12)15for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. (Hch 4:20; Hch 22:14; Hch 23:11)16And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ (Sal 51:2; Hch 2:38; Hch 9:14; Hch 9:18; 1 Co 6:11; Heb 10:22)17“When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance (Lc 18:10; Hch 3:1; Hch 9:26; Hch 10:10; Hch 11:5; Hch 26:20; 2 Co 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.’ (Hch 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; Hch 22:4; Hch 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.’ (Hch 7:58; Hch 8:1; Hch 26:10; Ro 1:32; Ap 2:13)21And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” (Hch 2:39; Hch 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.” (Hch 21:36; Hch 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. (Hch 21:34; Hch 22:29; Hch 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?” (Hch 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. (Hch 16:38; Hch 21:33; Hch 22:24; Hch 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. (Hch 22:24; Hch 23:28)