Acts 22

“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” Begin Abide·

When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then Paul declared, Begin Abide·

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. Begin Abide·

I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison, Begin Abide·

as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished. Begin Abide·

About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. Begin Abide·

I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ Begin Abide·

‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. Begin Abide·

My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me. Begin Abide·

Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’ Begin Abide·

Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me, my companions led me by the hand into Damascus. Begin Abide·

There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there, Begin Abide·

came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him. Begin Abide·

Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear His voice. Begin Abide·

You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard. Begin Abide·

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’ Begin Abide·

Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance Begin Abide·

and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’ Begin Abide·

‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You. Begin Abide·

And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ Begin Abide·

Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” Begin Abide·

The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!” Begin Abide·

As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air, Begin Abide·

the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him. Begin Abide·

But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?” Begin Abide·

On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.” Begin Abide·

The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered. Begin Abide·

“I paid a high price for my citizenship,” said the commander. “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied. Begin Abide·

At once those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains. Begin Abide·

The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them. Begin Abide·