1 ‘Brothers and|strong="G2532" fathers|strong="G3962", listen to|strong="G4314" the|strong="G2532" defence which|strong="G3588" I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1473" about|strong="G4314" to|strong="G4314" make|strong="G2532".’
2 When|strong="G1161" they|strong="G2532" heard that|strong="G3754" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" speaking to|strong="G2532" them|strong="G3588" in|strong="G2532" Hebrew|strong="G1446", they|strong="G2532" were|strong="G3588" still|strong="G3123" more|strong="G3123" quiet|strong="G2271"; and|strong="G2532" Paul|strong="G3588" went|strong="G2532" on|strong="G1161":
3 ‘I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1722" Jew|strong="G2453", from|strong="G3844" Tarsus|strong="G5019" in|strong="G1722" Cilicia|strong="G2791", but|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G1510" brought|strong="G1161" up|strong="G1722" in|strong="G1722" this|strong="G3778" city|strong="G4172" under|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" teaching|strong="G3811" of|strong="G2316" Gamaliel|strong="G1059", and|strong="G1161" educated|strong="G3811" in|strong="G1722" accordance|strong="G2596" with|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" strict system of|strong="G2316" our|strong="G2316" ancestral Law|strong="G3551". I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G1510" as|strong="G2531" zealous|strong="G2207" in|strong="G1722" God|strong="G2316"’s service as|strong="G2531" any|strong="G3956" of|strong="G2316" you|strong="G5210" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" here|strong="G1510" today|strong="G4594".
4 In|strong="G1519" my|strong="G3739" persecution|strong="G1377" of|strong="G2532" this|strong="G3778" Way|strong="G3598" I|strong="G3739" did|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3739" stop even|strong="G2532" at|strong="G1519" the|strong="G2532" taking of|strong="G2532" life. I|strong="G3739" put|strong="G2532" in|strong="G1519" chains, and|strong="G2532" imprisoned, men|strong="G3778" and|strong="G2532" women|strong="G1135" alike|strong="G5037" –
5 And|strong="G2532" to|strong="G1519" that|strong="G2443" the|strong="G2532" high|strong="G3956" priest himself|strong="G1519" and|strong="G2532" all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G2532" council|strong="G4244" of|strong="G2532" elders|strong="G4244" can testify|strong="G3140". For|strong="G1519" I|strong="G1473" had|strong="G2532" letters|strong="G1992" of|strong="G2532" introduction from|strong="G3844" them|strong="G3588" to|strong="G1519" our|strong="G2532" fellow Jews at|strong="G1519" Damascus|strong="G1154", and|strong="G2532" I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G1510" on|strong="G1519" my|strong="G3956" way|strong="G4198" to|strong="G1519" that|strong="G2443" place|strong="G1473", to|strong="G1519" bring|strong="G2532" those|strong="G3588" whom|strong="G3739" I|strong="G1473" might|strong="G2532" find there|strong="G2532" prisoners|strong="G1210" to|strong="G1519" Jerusalem|strong="G2419" for|strong="G1519" punishment.
6 While|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G1096" still on|strong="G1537" my|strong="G1473" way|strong="G4198", just|strong="G2532" as|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G1096" getting close|strong="G1448" to|strong="G2532" Damascus|strong="G1154", about|strong="G4012" midday, suddenly|strong="G1810" there|strong="G2532" flashed|strong="G4015" from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G2532" heavens|strong="G3772" a|strong="G1096" great|strong="G2532" light|strong="G5457" all|strong="G2532" round|strong="G2532" me|strong="G1473".
7 I|strong="G1473" fell|strong="G4098" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G2532" ground|strong="G1475", and|strong="G2532" heard a|strong="G2532" voice|strong="G5456" saying|strong="G3004" to|strong="G1519" me|strong="G1473" “\+w Saul|strong="G4549"\+w*, \+w Saul|strong="G4549"\+w*, \+w why|strong="G5101"\+w* \+w are|strong="G3588"\+w* \+w you|strong="G3004"\+w* \+w persecuting|strong="G1377"\+w* \+w me|strong="G1473"\+w*?”
8 “Who|strong="G3739" are|strong="G1510" you|strong="G4771", Lord|strong="G2962"?” I|strong="G1473" replied|strong="G3004". Then|strong="G1161" the|strong="G1161" voice said|strong="G3004" “\+w I|strong="G1473"\+w* \+w am|strong="G1510"\+w* \+w Jesus|strong="G2424"\+w* \+w of|strong="G2962"\+w* \+w Nazareth|strong="G3480"\+w* \+w whom|strong="G3739"\+w* \+w you|strong="G4771"\+w* \+w are|strong="G1510"\+w* \+w persecuting|strong="G1377"\+w*.”
9 The|strong="G1161" men|strong="G3588" with|strong="G4862" me|strong="G1473" saw|strong="G2300" the|strong="G1161" light|strong="G5457", but|strong="G1161" did|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" hear|strong="G5456" the|strong="G1161" speaker’s voice|strong="G5456".
10 Then|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1473" said|strong="G3004" “What|strong="G5101" am|strong="G1473" I|strong="G1473" to|strong="G1519" do|strong="G4160", Lord|strong="G2962"?” “Get \+w up|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w and|strong="G1161"\+w* \+w go|strong="G4198"\+w* \+w into|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w Damascus|strong="G1154"\+w*,” The|strong="G1519" Lord|strong="G2962" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G1519" me|strong="G1473", “\+w and|strong="G1161"\+w* \+w there|strong="G1161"\+w* \+w you|strong="G4771"\+w* \+w will|strong="G5101"\+w* \+w be|strong="G3956"\+w* \+w told|strong="G3004"\+w* \+w all|strong="G3956"\+w* \+w that|strong="G3739"\+w* \+w you|strong="G4771"\+w* \+w have|strong="G1473"\+w* \+w been|strong="G2962"\+w* \+w appointed|strong="G4160"\+w* \+w to|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w do|strong="G4160"\+w*.”
11 In|strong="G1519" consequence of|strong="G5259" that|strong="G3588" dazzling light|strong="G5457" I|strong="G1473" could|strong="G1689" not|strong="G3756" see|strong="G1689", but|strong="G1161" my|strong="G1473" companions|strong="G3588" held me|strong="G1473" by|strong="G5259" the|strong="G1519" hand|strong="G1161", until|strong="G1519" I|strong="G1473" reached|strong="G1519" Damascus|strong="G1154".
12 There|strong="G1161" a|strong="G1161" man|strong="G5100" named Ananias, a|strong="G1161" strict observer of|strong="G5259" our|strong="G3956" Law|strong="G3551", well|strong="G3140" spoken|strong="G3140" of|strong="G5259" by|strong="G5259" all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" Jewish|strong="G2453" inhabitants|strong="G2730", came|strong="G3588" to|strong="G2596" see me.
13 Standing|strong="G2186" close to|strong="G1519" me|strong="G1473", he|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004" “Saul|strong="G4549", my|strong="G1473" brother, recover your|strong="G2532" sight|strong="G3588".” And|strong="G2532" then|strong="G2532" and|strong="G2532" there|strong="G2532" I|strong="G1473" recovered my|strong="G1473" sight|strong="G3588" and|strong="G2532" looked|strong="G2532" up|strong="G1519" at|strong="G1519" him|strong="G3588".
14 Then|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004" “The|strong="G2532" God|strong="G2316" of|strong="G1537" our|strong="G2316" ancestors|strong="G3962" has|strong="G2316" appointed|strong="G4400" you|strong="G4771" to|strong="G2532" learn|strong="G1097" his|strong="G3708" will|strong="G2307", and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" see|strong="G3708" the|strong="G2532" righteous|strong="G1342" one|strong="G3588", and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" hear|strong="G5456" words|strong="G4750" from|strong="G1537" his|strong="G3708" lips|strong="G4750";
15 for|strong="G3754" you|strong="G3739" will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1510" a|strong="G2532" witness|strong="G3144" for|strong="G3754" him|strong="G3739" to|strong="G4314" all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G2532" world of|strong="G2532" what|strong="G3739" you|strong="G3739" have|strong="G2532" just|strong="G2532" seen|strong="G3708" and|strong="G2532" heard.
16 And|strong="G2532" now|strong="G3568" why|strong="G5101" wait any|strong="G5101" longer, Be|strong="G2532" baptised at|strong="G3588" once, wash|strong="G2532" away your|strong="G2532" sins, and|strong="G2532" invoke his|strong="G2532" name|strong="G3686".”
17 After|strong="G1161" my|strong="G1722" return|strong="G5290" to|strong="G1519" Jerusalem|strong="G2419", I|strong="G1473" was|strong="G1096" praying|strong="G4336" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" Temple|strong="G2413" when|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1473" fell|strong="G1096" into|strong="G1519" a|strong="G1096" trance|strong="G1611",
18 and|strong="G2532" saw|strong="G3708" Jesus|strong="G3004" saying|strong="G3004" to|strong="G2532" me|strong="G1473" “\+w Make|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w haste|strong="G4692"\+w* \+w and|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w leave|strong="G1831"\+w* \+w Jerusalem|strong="G2419"\+w* \+w at|strong="G1722"\+w* once, \+w because|strong="G1360"\+w* \+w they|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w will|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w not|strong="G3756"\+w* \+w accept|strong="G3858"\+w* \+w your|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w testimony|strong="G3141"\+w* \+w about|strong="G4012"\+w* \+w me|strong="G1473"\+w*.”
19 “Lord|strong="G2962",” I|strong="G1473" answered|strong="G3004", “these|strong="G3588" people|strong="G1510" know|strong="G1987" that|strong="G3754" I|strong="G1473" used to|strong="G2532" imprison|strong="G5439" and|strong="G2532" scourge, in|strong="G1909" synagogue|strong="G4864" after|strong="G2596" synagogue|strong="G4864", those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" believed|strong="G4100" in|strong="G1909" you|strong="G4771";
20 and|strong="G2532", when|strong="G3753" the|strong="G2532" blood of|strong="G2532" your|strong="G2532" martyr|strong="G3144", Stephen|strong="G4736", was|strong="G1510" being|strong="G1510" shed|strong="G1632", I|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" myself standing|strong="G2186" by|strong="G2532", approving|strong="G4909" of|strong="G2532" his|strong="G2532" death, and|strong="G2532" took|strong="G2532" charge of|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" clothes|strong="G2440" of|strong="G2532" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" were|strong="G1510" murdering him|strong="G3588".”
21 But|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G3004" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G1519" me|strong="G1473" “\+w Go|strong="G4198"\+w*; \+w for|strong="G3754"\+w* \+w I|strong="G1473"\+w* \+w will|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w send|strong="G1821"\+w* \+w you|strong="G4771"\+w* \+w to|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w the|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w Gentiles|strong="G1484"\+w* \+w far|strong="G3112"\+w* \+w away|strong="G1821"\+w*”.’
22 Up|strong="G1869" to|strong="G2532" this|strong="G3778" point the|strong="G2532" people|strong="G3004" had|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" listening to|strong="G2532" Paul|strong="G3588", but|strong="G1161" at|strong="G1161" these|strong="G3778" words|strong="G3056" they|strong="G2532" called|strong="G3004" out|strong="G2532", ‘Kill him|strong="G3588"! A|strong="G2532" fellow|strong="G5108" like|strong="G5108" this|strong="G3778" ought not|strong="G3756" to|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" allowed|strong="G2520" to|strong="G2532" live|strong="G2198"!’
23 As|strong="G1519" they|strong="G2532" were|strong="G3588" shouting|strong="G2905", tearing off|strong="G4495" their|strong="G2532" clothes|strong="G2440", and|strong="G2532" throwing|strong="G4496" dust|strong="G2868" in|strong="G1519" the|strong="G2532" air,
24 the|strong="G1519" commanding|strong="G2753" officer ordered|strong="G2753" Paul|strong="G3148" to|strong="G1519" be|strong="G1519" taken into|strong="G1519" the|strong="G1519" Fort, and|strong="G3588" directed that|strong="G2443" he|strong="G3739" should|strong="G3588" be|strong="G1519" examined under|strong="G1223" the|strong="G1519" lash so|strong="G3779" that|strong="G2443" he|strong="G3739" might find|strong="G1921" out|strong="G1519" the|strong="G1519" reason|strong="G1223" for|strong="G1519" their|strong="G1519" outcry against|strong="G1519" him|strong="G3588".
25 But|strong="G1161" just|strong="G5613" as|strong="G5613" they|strong="G2532" had|strong="G2532" tied him|strong="G3588" up|strong="G2476" to|strong="G4314" be|strong="G2532" scourged, Paul|strong="G3972" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G4314" the|strong="G2532" centurion|strong="G1543" standing|strong="G2476" near|strong="G4314", ‘Is|strong="G3588" it|strong="G2532" legal for|strong="G4314" you|strong="G5210" to|strong="G4314" scourge|strong="G3147" a|strong="G5613" Roman|strong="G4514" citizen, unconvicted?’
26 On|strong="G1161" hearing this|strong="G3778", the|strong="G1161" centurion|strong="G1543" went|strong="G4334" and|strong="G1161" reported|strong="G3004" it|strong="G1161" to|strong="G3004" the|strong="G1161" commanding officer. ‘Do|strong="G4160" you|strong="G3004" know what|strong="G5101" you|strong="G3004" are|strong="G1510" doing|strong="G4160"?’ he|strong="G1161" said|strong="G3004". ‘This|strong="G3778" man|strong="G3778" is|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" Roman|strong="G4514" citizen.’
27 So|strong="G1161" the|strong="G1161" commanding officer went|strong="G4334" up|strong="G4334" to|strong="G3004" Paul|strong="G1510" and|strong="G1161" said|strong="G3004", ‘Tell|strong="G3004" me|strong="G1473", are|strong="G1510" you|strong="G4771" a|strong="G1510" Roman|strong="G4514" citizen?’
28 ‘I|strong="G1473" had|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" pay a|strong="G2532" heavy price|strong="G4183" for|strong="G1161" my|strong="G1473" position as|strong="G1161" citizen,’ said|strong="G5346" the|strong="G2532" officer. ‘I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1473" one|strong="G3588" by|strong="G2532" birth|strong="G1080",’ rejoined Paul|strong="G3972".
29 The|strong="G2532" men|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" were|strong="G1510" to|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" examined Paul|strong="G1510" immediately|strong="G2112" drew|strong="G2532" back, and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" officer, finding that|strong="G3754" Paul|strong="G1510" was|strong="G1510" a|strong="G2532" Roman|strong="G4514" citizen, was|strong="G1510" alarmed at|strong="G1161" having|strong="G2532" put|strong="G2532" him|strong="G3588" in|strong="G2532" chains|strong="G1210".
30 On|strong="G1519" the|strong="G2532" next|strong="G1887" day|strong="G1887" the|strong="G2532" commanding|strong="G2753" officer, wishing|strong="G1014" to|strong="G1519" find|strong="G1097" out|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" real reason why|strong="G5101" Paul|strong="G3972" was|strong="G3588" denounced by|strong="G5259" the|strong="G2532" Jewish|strong="G2453" leaders, had|strong="G2532" his|strong="G1438" chains taken off|strong="G3089", and|strong="G2532" directed the|strong="G2532" chief|strong="G2532" priests and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" whole|strong="G3956" of|strong="G5259" the|strong="G2532" High|strong="G3956" Council|strong="G4892" to|strong="G1519" assemble|strong="G4905", and|strong="G2532" then|strong="G2532" took|strong="G2532" Paul|strong="G3972" down|strong="G2609" and|strong="G2532" brought|strong="G2609" him|strong="G3588" before|strong="G1519" them|strong="G3588".