Apostelgeschichte 22 | La Biblia Textual

1 Varones hermanos y padres, oíd ahora mi defensa ante vosotros. 2 (Oyendo entonces que les hablaba en lengua hebrea, guardaron más silencio.) Y dice: 3 Yo soy un varón judío, nacido en Tarso de Cilicia, pero criado en esta ciudad, y educado a los pies de Gamaliel conforme a la rigidez de la ley ancestral, siendo tan celoso de Dios como todos vosotros lo sois hoy. 4 Yo perseguí a muerte este Camino, atando y entregando en cárceles a varones y también a mujeres, 5 como también me es testigo el sumo sacerdote, y todo el concilio de ancianos, pues de ellos recibí cartas para los hermanos en Damasco, y viajaba allá para traer atados a Jerusalem incluso a los que había allí, a fin de que fueran castigados.

Pablo relata su conversión

6 Pero me aconteció yendo, cuando me acercaba a Damasco, como a medio día, súbitamente una gran luz del cielo resplandeció en torno a mí, 7 y caí al suelo y oí una voz que me decía: Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues? 8 Yo entonces respondí: ¿Quién eres, Señor? Me dijo: Yo soy Jesús el nazareno, a quién tú persigues. 9 Ahora bien, los que estaban conmigo ciertamente vieron la luz, pero no oyeron la voz del que hablaba conmigo. 10 Entonces dije: ¿Qué debo hacer, Señor? Y el Señor me dijo: Levántate, ve a Damasco, y allí se te dirá todo lo que ha sido ordenado que hagas. 11 Y como no veía por causa del resplandor de aquella luz, me llevaron de la mano los que estaban conmigo, y llegué a Damasco. 12 Entonces cierto Ananías, varón piadoso conforme a la ley, que recibía aprobación de todos los judíos que viven allí, 13 vino a mí, y acercándose, me dijo: Hermano Saulo, recupera la vista. Y en aquel momento, miré hacia él. 14 Entonces él dijo: El Dios de nuestros padres te ha escogido para que conozcas su voluntad, veas al Justo y oigas la voz de su boca. 15 Porque le serás testigo ante todos los hombres de lo que has visto y oído. 16 Ahora pues, ¿qué esperas? ¡Levántate y bautízate y lava tus pecados invocando su nombre!

Apostolado a los gentiles

17 Y me aconteció que después de regresar a Jerusalem, y cuando estaba orando en el templo, tuve un éxtasis, 18 y vi que me decía: Apresúrate, y sal pronto de Jerusalem; porque no recibirán tu testimonio acerca de mí. 19 Y yo dije: Señor, ellos saben que yo estaba encarcelando y azotando en cada una de las sinagogas a los que creen en ti. 20 Y cuando era derramada la sangre de Esteban tu testigo, yo mismo estaba presente consintiendo y guardando las ropas de los que lo mataban. 21 Y me dijo: Ve, porque Yo te enviaré lejos a los gentiles. 22 Y lo escucharon hasta esa palabra, y alzando la voz, gritaron: ¡Quita a ése de la tierra, que no conviene que viva! 23 Y como ellos seguían gritando y agitando sus mantos y echando polvo al aire, 24 el tribuno mandó meterlo en la fortaleza, y dijo que lo atormentaran con azotes, para descubrir por qué causa le gritaban así.

Pablo, ciudadano romano

25 Pero cuando lo estaban atando con las correas, Pablo dijo al centurión que estaba presente: ¿Os es lícito azotar también a un ciudadano romano sin sentencia previa? 26 Cuando el centurión oyó esto, fue al tribuno y le avisó, diciendo: ¿Qué vas a hacer?, porque este hombre es romano. 27 El tribuno se le acercó entonces, y le dijo: Dime, ¿eres tú romano? Y él dijo: Sí. 28 Y el tribuno respondió: Yo, con una gran suma adquirí esta ciudadanía. Entonces Pablo dijo: Pues yo la tengo de nacimiento. 29 De manera que los que iban a interrogarlo se apartaron de él al instante. Y hasta el tribuno, aun por haberlo atado, tuvo temor al saber que era romano.

Pablo ante el Sanedrín

30 Al día siguiente, queriendo saber de seguro por qué lo acusaban los judíos, lo desató; y mandó reunir a los principales sacerdotes y a todo el Sanedrín; y sacando a Pablo, lo puso ante ellos.

English Standard Version

1 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language,* they became even more quiet. And he said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel* according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as 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. 6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand* the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And 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.’ 11 And 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, 13 came 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. 14 And 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; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ 17 “When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And 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.’ 21 And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

Paul and the Roman Tribune

22 Up 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.” 23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the 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. 25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips,* 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?” 26 When 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.” 27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29 So 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.

Paul Before the Council

30 But 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.

Apostelgeschichte 22 | La Biblia Textual English Standard Version