Revised
Standard Version of the Holy Bible
Acts
Chapter 22 (Revised Standard Version)
Acts 22
1 "Brethren and fathers, hear the defense which I now make
before you."
2 And when they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew language,
they were the more quiet. And he said:
3 "I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cili'cia, but brought up in
this city at the feet of Gama'li-el, educated according to the strict
manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all are
this day.
4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to
prison both men and women,
5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders bear me witness.
From them I received letters to the brethren, and I journeyed to Damascus
to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to
be punished.
6 "As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a
great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.
7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul,
Saul, why do you persecute me?'
8 And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus
of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.'
9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice
of the one who was speaking to me.
10 And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me,
'Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is
appointed for you to do.'
11 And when I could not see because of the brightness of that light,
I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
12 "And one Anani'as, a devout man according to the law, well
spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive
your sight.' And in that very hour I received my sight and saw him.
14 And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you to know his
will, to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth;
15 for you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen
and heard.
16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your
sins, calling on his name.'
17 "When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the
temple, I fell into a trance
18 and saw him saying to me, 'Make haste and get quickly out of
Jerusalem, because they will not accept your testimony about me.'
19 And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I
imprisoned and beat those who believed in thee.
20 And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was
standing by and approving, and keeping the garments of those who killed
him.'
21 And he said to me, 'Depart; for I will send you far away to the
Gentiles.'"
22 Up to this word they listened to him; then they lifted up their
voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he
ought not to live."
23 And as they cried out and waved their garments and threw dust into
the air,
24 the tribune commanded him to be brought into the barracks, and
ordered him to be examined by scourging, to find out why they shouted thus
against him.
25 But when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the
centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man
who is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?"
26 When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to
him, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman
citizen."
27 So the tribune came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a
Roman citizen?" And he said, "Yes."
28 The tribune answered, "I bought this citizenship for a large
sum." Paul said, "But I was born a citizen."
29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him
instantly; and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was
a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.
30 But on the morrow, desiring to know the real reason why the Jews
accused him, he unbound him, and commanded the chief priests and all the
council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.
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