1 Paul said|strong="G2532", “My|strong="G0191" brothers|strong="G0080" and|strong="G2532" fathers|strong="G3962", listen|strong="G0191" to|strong="G4314" me|strong="G1473"! I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G2532" make my|strong="G0191" defense|strong="G0627" to|strong="G4314" you|strong="G5210".”
2 When|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" Jews heard|strong="G0191" Paul|strong="G0846" speaking Aramaic, they|strong="G0846" became|strong="G3930" very|strong="G0846" quiet|strong="G2271". Then|strong="G2532" Paul|strong="G0846" said|strong="G5346",
3 “I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" Jew|strong="G2453", born|strong="G1080" in|strong="G1722" Tarsus|strong="G5019" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" country of|strong="G1080" Cilicia|strong="G2791". I|strong="G1473" grew up|strong="G0397" in|strong="G1722" this|strong="G3778" city|strong="G4172". I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" student of|strong="G1080" Gamaliel|strong="G1059", who|strong="G3588" carefully taught|strong="G3811" me|strong="G1473" everything|strong="G3956" about|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" law|strong="G3551" of|strong="G1080" our|strong="G2316" fathers|strong="G3971". I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G1510" very|strong="G3778" serious about|strong="G1722" serving God|strong="G2316", the|strong="G3956" same|strong="G3778" as|strong="G2531" all|strong="G3956" of|strong="G1080" you|strong="G5210" here|strong="G1510" today|strong="G4594".
4 I|strong="G3739" persecuted|strong="G1377" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0435" who|strong="G3739" followed the|strong="G3588" Way|strong="G3598". Some|strong="G3588" of|strong="G0435" them|strong="G3739" were|strong="G3778" killed because of|strong="G0435" me. I|strong="G3739" arrested men|strong="G0435" and|strong="G2532" women|strong="G1135" and|strong="G2532" put|strong="G3860" them|strong="G3739" in|strong="G1519" jail.
5 “The|strong="G3956" high|strong="G0749" priest|strong="G0749" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" whole|strong="G3956" council|strong="G4244" of|strong="G3956" older Jewish leaders can tell you|strong="G3739" that|strong="G3739" this|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" true. One|strong="G3739" time these|strong="G3739" leaders gave me|strong="G1473" some|strong="G3588" letters|strong="G1992". The|strong="G3956" letters|strong="G1992" were|strong="G1510" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3956" Jewish brothers|strong="G0080" in|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3956" city of|strong="G3956" Damascus|strong="G1154". I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G1510" going|strong="G4198" there|strong="G1510" to|strong="G1519" arrest|strong="G0071" the|strong="G3956" followers of|strong="G3956" Jesus|strong="G1510" and|strong="G2532" bring|strong="G0071" them|strong="G0071" back|strong="G1519" to|strong="G1519" Jerusalem|strong="G2419" for|strong="G1519" punishment.
6 “But|strong="G1161" something happened|strong="G1096" to|strong="G2532" me|strong="G1473" on|strong="G1537" my|strong="G1096" way|strong="G4198" to|strong="G2532" Damascus|strong="G1154". It|strong="G1161" was|strong="G3588" about|strong="G4012" noon|strong="G3314" when|strong="G2532" I|strong="G1473" came|strong="G1096" close|strong="G1448" to|strong="G2532" Damascus|strong="G1154". Suddenly|strong="G1810" a|strong="G1096" bright|strong="G2425" light|strong="G5457" from|strong="G1537" heaven|strong="G3772" shined all|strong="G3588" around|strong="G4012" me|strong="G1473".
7 I|strong="G1473" fell|strong="G4098" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" ground|strong="G1475" and|strong="G2532" heard|strong="G0191" a|strong="G0191" voice|strong="G5456" saying|strong="G3004" to|strong="G1519" me|strong="G3004", ‘Saul|strong="G4549", Saul|strong="G4549", why|strong="G5101" are|strong="G3588" you|strong="G3004" persecuting|strong="G1377" me|strong="G3004"?’
8 “I|strong="G1473" asked|strong="G3004", ‘Who|strong="G3739" are|strong="G1510" you|strong="G4771", Lord|strong="G2962"?’ The|strong="G3588" voice said|strong="G3004", ‘I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" Jesus|strong="G2424" from|strong="G2424" Nazareth|strong="G3480", the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3739" you|strong="G4771" are|strong="G1510" persecuting|strong="G1377".’
9 The|strong="G3588" men who|strong="G3588" were|strong="G1510" with|strong="G4862" me|strong="G1473" did|strong="G0191" not|strong="G3756" understand|strong="G0191" the|strong="G3588" voice|strong="G5456", but|strong="G1161" they|strong="G1161" saw|strong="G2300" the|strong="G3588" light|strong="G5457".
10 “I|strong="G1473" said|strong="G3004", ‘What|strong="G5101" shall|strong="G2962" I|strong="G1473" do|strong="G4160", Lord|strong="G2962"?’ The|strong="G3956" Lord|strong="G2962" answered|strong="G3004", ‘Get|strong="G0450" up|strong="G0450" and|strong="G1161" go|strong="G4198" into|strong="G1519" Damascus|strong="G1154". There|strong="G2546" you|strong="G4771" will|strong="G5101" be|strong="G3956" told|strong="G3004" all|strong="G3956" that|strong="G3739" I|strong="G1473" have|strong="G1473" planned for|strong="G1519" you|strong="G4771" to|strong="G1519" do|strong="G4160".’
11 I|strong="G1473" could not|strong="G3756" see|strong="G1689", because|strong="G0575" the|strong="G3588" bright|strong="G5457" light|strong="G5457" had|strong="G2064" made me|strong="G1473" blind. So|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" men led|strong="G5496" me|strong="G1473" into|strong="G1519" Damascus|strong="G1154".
12 “In|strong="G2596" Damascus a|strong="G5259" man|strong="G0435" named Ananias|strong="G0367" came to|strong="G2596" me. He|strong="G1161" was|strong="G3588" a|strong="G5259" man|strong="G0435" who|strong="G3588" was|strong="G3588" devoted to|strong="G2596" God|strong="G2730" and|strong="G1161" obeyed the|strong="G3956" Law|strong="G3551" of|strong="G3551" Moses. All|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" Jews|strong="G2453" who|strong="G3588" lived|strong="G2730" there|strong="G1161" respected him|strong="G0435".
13 He|strong="G2532" came|strong="G2064" to|strong="G1519" me|strong="G3004" and|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004", ‘Saul|strong="G4549", my|strong="G0308" brother|strong="G0080", look up|strong="G1519" and|strong="G2532" see|strong="G0308" again|strong="G2532"!’ Immediately I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G3588" able to|strong="G1519" see|strong="G0308" him|strong="G0846".
14 “Ananias told|strong="G3004" me|strong="G3004", ‘The|strong="G3588" God|strong="G2316" of|strong="G1537" our|strong="G2316" fathers|strong="G3962" chose you|strong="G4771" long ago to|strong="G3004" know|strong="G1097" his|strong="G0846" plan. He|strong="G2532" chose you|strong="G4771" to|strong="G3004" see|strong="G3708" the|strong="G3588" Righteous|strong="G1342" One|strong="G3588" and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G3004" hear|strong="G0191" words|strong="G4750" from|strong="G1537" him|strong="G0846".
15 You|strong="G3739" will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" his|strong="G0846" witness|strong="G3144" to|strong="G4314" all|strong="G3956" people|strong="G0444". You|strong="G3739" will|strong="G1510" tell them|strong="G0846" what|strong="G3739" you|strong="G3739" have|strong="G1510" seen|strong="G3708" and|strong="G2532" heard|strong="G0191".
16 Now|strong="G3568", don’t wait any longer. Get|strong="G0450" up|strong="G0450", be|strong="G2532" baptized|strong="G0907" and|strong="G2532" wash|strong="G0907" away|strong="G0630" your|strong="G2532" sins|strong="G0266", trusting in|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G0846" to|strong="G3195" save you|strong="G4771".’
17 “Later, I|strong="G1473" came|strong="G1096" back|strong="G5290" to|strong="G1519" Jerusalem|strong="G2419". I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G3588" praying|strong="G4336" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G2413" area, and|strong="G2532" I|strong="G1473" saw a|strong="G1096" vision.
18 I|strong="G1473" saw|strong="G3708" Jesus|strong="G0846", and|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" me|strong="G3004", ‘Hurry|strong="G4692" and|strong="G2532" leave|strong="G1831" Jerusalem|strong="G2419" now|strong="G2532"! The|strong="G2532" people|strong="G0846" here|strong="G1722" will|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3756" accept|strong="G3858" the|strong="G2532" truth you|strong="G4771" tell|strong="G3004" them|strong="G0846" about|strong="G4012" me|strong="G3004".’
19 “I|strong="G1473" said|strong="G3004", ‘But|strong="G2532", Lord|strong="G2962", the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" know|strong="G1987" that|strong="G3754" I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" one|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" put the|strong="G3588" believers|strong="G4100" in|strong="G1909" jail and|strong="G2532" beat|strong="G1194" them|strong="G0846". I|strong="G1473" went through|strong="G2596" all|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" synagogues|strong="G4864" to|strong="G3004" find and|strong="G2532" arrest the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3588" believe|strong="G4100" in|strong="G1909" you|strong="G4771".
20 The|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" also|strong="G2532" know that|strong="G0846" I|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" there|strong="G1510" when|strong="G3753" Stephen|strong="G4736", your|strong="G2532" witness|strong="G3144", was|strong="G1510" killed|strong="G0337". I|strong="G2532" stood|strong="G2186" there|strong="G1510" and|strong="G2532" agreed that|strong="G0846" they|strong="G0846" should|strong="G2532" kill|strong="G0337" him|strong="G0846". I|strong="G2532" even|strong="G2532" held the|strong="G3588" coats|strong="G2440" of|strong="G0129" the|strong="G3588" men|strong="G0337" who|strong="G3588" were|strong="G1510" killing him|strong="G0846"!’
21 “But|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G3004" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G1519" me|strong="G3004", ‘Leave|strong="G4198" now|strong="G2532". I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G3748" send|strong="G1821" you|strong="G4771" far|strong="G3112" away|strong="G1821" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G2532" non-Jewish people|strong="G1484".’”
22 The|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" stopped listening|strong="G0191" when|strong="G2532" Paul|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004" this|strong="G3778" last|strong="G3778" thing|strong="G3778". They|strong="G0846" all|strong="G3588" shouted|strong="G1869", “Get|strong="G0142" rid of|strong="G3056" this|strong="G3778" man|strong="G3778"! He|strong="G2532" doesn’t|strong="G3756" deserve to|strong="G3004" live|strong="G2198".”
23 They|strong="G0846" kept on|strong="G1519" shouting|strong="G2905", ripping off|strong="G4496" their|strong="G0846" clothes|strong="G2440" and|strong="G2532" throwing|strong="G4496" dust|strong="G2868" into|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" air|strong="G0109".
24 Then|strong="G3779" the|strong="G3588" commander|strong="G5506" told|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3588" soldiers to|strong="G1519" take|strong="G1921" Paul|strong="G0846" into|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" army building and|strong="G0846" beat him|strong="G0846". He|strong="G0846" wanted to|strong="G1519" make Paul|strong="G0846" tell|strong="G3004" why|strong="G1223" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" were|strong="G3739" shouting|strong="G2019" against|strong="G1519" him|strong="G0846" like|strong="G3779" this|strong="G3779".
25 So|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" soldiers were|strong="G3588" tying Paul|strong="G3972", preparing to|strong="G4314" beat him|strong="G0846". But|strong="G1161" he|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G4314" an|strong="G2532" army officer there|strong="G1161", “Do|strong="G3004" you|strong="G5210" have|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" right to|strong="G4314" beat a|strong="G5613" Roman|strong="G4514" citizen who|strong="G3588" has|strong="G0444" not|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" proven guilty?”
26 When|strong="G1161" the|strong="G3588" officer heard|strong="G0191" this|strong="G3778", he|strong="G3778" went|strong="G4334" to|strong="G3004" the|strong="G3588" commander|strong="G5506" and|strong="G1161" told|strong="G3004" him|strong="G0191" about|strong="G3195" it|strong="G4160". The|strong="G3588" officer said|strong="G3004", “Do|strong="G4160" you|strong="G3004" know what|strong="G5101" you|strong="G3004" are|strong="G1510" doing|strong="G4160"? This|strong="G3778" man|strong="G0444" is|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" Roman|strong="G4514" citizen!”
27 The|strong="G3588" commander|strong="G5506" came|strong="G4334" to|strong="G3004" Paul|strong="G0846" and|strong="G1161" said|strong="G3004", “Tell|strong="G3004" me|strong="G3004", are|strong="G1510" you|strong="G4771" really a|strong="G1510" Roman|strong="G4514" citizen?”
28 The|strong="G3588" commander|strong="G5506" said|strong="G5346", “I|strong="G1473" paid a|strong="G2532" lot of|strong="G1080" money|strong="G2774" to|strong="G2532" become a|strong="G2532" Roman citizen.”
29 The|strong="G3588" men|strong="G0846" who|strong="G3588" were|strong="G1510" preparing to|strong="G3195" question Paul|strong="G0846" moved away|strong="G0868" from|strong="G0575" him|strong="G0846" immediately|strong="G2112". The|strong="G3588" commander|strong="G5506" was|strong="G1510" afraid|strong="G5399" because|strong="G3754" he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G1510" already put|strong="G1210" Paul|strong="G0846" in|strong="G2532" chains|strong="G1210", and|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" Roman|strong="G4514" citizen.
30 The|strong="G3956" next|strong="G1887" day|strong="G1887" the|strong="G3956" commander decided to|strong="G1519" learn|strong="G1097" why|strong="G5101" the|strong="G3956" Jews|strong="G2453" were|strong="G2453" accusing|strong="G2723" Paul|strong="G3972". So|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" ordered|strong="G2753" the|strong="G3956" leading|strong="G1519" priests|strong="G0749" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" whole|strong="G3956" high|strong="G0749" council|strong="G4892" to|strong="G1519" meet|strong="G4905" together|strong="G4905". He|strong="G2532" had|strong="G3972" Paul’s|strong="G3972" chains taken off|strong="G3089" and|strong="G2532" had|strong="G3972" him|strong="G0846" brought|strong="G2609" in|strong="G1519" to|strong="G1519" face the|strong="G3956" council|strong="G4892".