HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1374
ACTS 22
22
“Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul
said, “listen to me as I offer my defense.” 2 When they heard him speaking in their
own language,* the silence was even greater.
3 Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus,
a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his
student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish
laws and customs. I became very zealous to
honor God in everything I did, just like all of
you today. 4 And I persecuted the followers of
the Way, hounding some to death, arresting
both men and women and throwing them in
prison. 5 The high priest and the whole council
of elders can testify that this is so. For I received
letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers
of the Way from there to Jerusalem, in chains,
to be punished.
6 “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven
suddenly shone down around me. 7 I fell to the
ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.
“And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene,* the one you are persecuting.’ 9 The people
with me saw the light but didn’t understand the
voice speaking to me.
10 “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’
“And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into
Damascus, and there you will be told everything
you are to do.’
11 “I was blinded by the intense light and had
to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions. 12 A man named Ananias lived there.
He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law,
and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus. 13 He came and stood beside me and said,
‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very
moment I could see him!
14 “Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to
see the Righteous One and hear him speak.
15 For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. 16 What are
you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have
your sins washed away by calling on the name
of the Lord.’
17 “After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying
in the Temple and fell into a trance. 18 I saw a
vision of Jesus* saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t accept your
testimony about me.’
19 “‘But Lord,’ I argued, ‘they certainly know
that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat
those who believed in you. 20 And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen
was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they
took off when they stoned him.’
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21 “But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send
you far away to the Gentiles!’”
22 The crowd listened until Paul said that
word. Then they all began to shout, “Away with
such a fellow! He isn’t fit to live!” 23 They yelled,
threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of
dust into the air.
Paul Reveals His Roman Citizenship
24 The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime. He wanted to find out why the
crowd had become so furious. 25 When they tied
Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer*
standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?”
26 When the officer heard this, he went to the
commander and asked, “What are you doing?
This man is a Roman citizen!”
27 So the commander went over and asked
Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”
“Yes, I certainly am,” Paul replied.
28 “I am, too,” the commander muttered, “and
it cost me plenty!”
Paul answered, “But I am a citizen by birth!”
29 The soldiers who were about to interrogate
Paul quickly withdrew when they heard he
was a Roman citizen, and the commander was
frightened because he had ordered him bound
and whipped.
Paul before the High Council
30 The next day the commander ordered the
leading priests into session with the Jewish high
council.* He wanted to find out what the trouble
was all about, so he released Paul to have him
stand before them.
23
Gazing intently at the high council,*
Paul began: “Brothers, I have always
lived before God with a clear conscience!”
2 Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the
mouth. 3 But Paul said to him, “God will slap
you, you corrupt hypocrite!* What kind of judge
are you to break the law yourself by ordering me
struck like that?”
4 Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do
you dare to insult God’s high priest?”
5 “I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was
the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of
your rulers.’*”
6 Paul realized that some members of the high
council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee,
as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because
my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”
22:2 Greek in Aramaic, or in Hebrew. 22:8 Or Jesus of Nazareth.
22:18 Greek him. 22:25 Greek the centurion; also in 22:26.
22:30 Greek Sanhedrin. 23:1 Greek Sanhedrin; also in 23:6, 15,
20, 28. 23:3 Greek you whitewashed wall. 23:5 Exod 22:28.