| 1 Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto
you. 2 And when they heard that he spake unto them in the Hebrew language,
they were the more quiet: and he saith, 3 I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of
Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed
according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for
God, even as ye all are this day: 4 and I persecuted this Way unto the
death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 5 As also
the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from
whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and journeyed to Damascus to
bring them also that were there unto Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and drew nigh unto
Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round
about me. 7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me,
Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord?
And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 9 And
they that were with me beheld indeed the light, but they heard not the voice
of him that spake to me. 10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the
Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told
thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 11 And when I could
not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were
with me I came into Damascus. 12 And one Ananias, a devout man according
to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there, 13 came
unto me, and standing by me said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight.
And in that very hour I looked up on him. 14 And he said, The God of our
fathers hath appointed thee to know his will, and to see the Righteous One,
and to hear a voice from his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be a witness for him
unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest
thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.
17 And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while
I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance, 18 and saw him saying unto
me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not
receive of thee testimony concerning me. 19 And I said, Lord, they
themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that
believed on thee: 20 and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I
also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that
slew him. 21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far
hence unto the Gentiles. 22 And they gave him audience unto this word; and
they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth:
for it is not fit that he should live. 23 And as they cried out, and threw
off their garments, and cast dust into the air, 24 the chief captain
commanded him be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined
by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him.
25 And when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said unto the
centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a
Roman, and uncondemned? 26 And when the centurion heard it, he went to the
chief captain and told him, saying, What art thou about to do? for this man
is a Roman. 27 And the chief captain came and said unto him, Tell me, art
thou a Roman? And he said, Yea. 28 And the chief captain answered, With a
great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I am a
Roman born. 29 They then that were about to examine him straightway
departed from him: and the chief captain also was afraid when he knew that he
was a Roman, and because he had bound him. 30 But on the morrow, desiring
to know the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him,
and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and
brought Paul down and set him before them.
Genesis - Public
Domain
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