1 My brothers and fathers, give ear to the story of my life which I now put before you.
1 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
1 "Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense that I am now making before you."
2 And, hearing him talking in the Hebrew language, they became the more quiet, and he said,
2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the (a)(B)Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he *said,
2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
2 When they heard him speaking to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet, and he continued:
3 I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia by birth, but I had my education in this town at the feet of Gamaliel, being trained in the keeping of every detail of the law of our fathers; given up to the cause of God with all my heart, as you are today.
3 “(C)I am (D)a Jew, born in (E)Tarsus of (F)Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated (b)under (G)Gamaliel, (c)(H)strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as (I)you all are today.
3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
3 He(B) continued, “I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city(a) at the feet of Gamaliel(C) and educated according to the strict view of our patriarchal law. Being zealous for God, just as all of you are today,(D)
3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia but raised in this city and educated at the feet of Gamaliel in the strict ways of our ancestral Law. I am as zealous for God as all of you are today.
4 And I made attacks on this Way, even to death, taking men and women and putting them in prison.
4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
4 I persecuted this Way, even executing people, and kept tying up both men and women and putting them in prison,
5 Of which the high priest will be a witness, and all the rulers, from whom I had letters to the brothers; and I went into Damascus, to take those who were there as prisoners to Jerusalem for punishment.
5 as also (L)the high priest and all (M)the Council of the elders (d)can testify. From them I also (N)received letters to (O)the brethren, and started off for (P)Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem (e)as prisoners to be punished.
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 went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
5 as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to bring those who were prisoners there to be punished in Jerusalem.(G)
5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. I also received letters from them to the brothers in Damascus, and I was going there to tie up those who were there and bring them back to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 And it came about that while I was on my journey, coming near to Damascus, about the middle of the day, suddenly I saw a great light from heaven shining round me.
6 “(Q)But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me,
6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
6 “As(H) I was traveling and near Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.
6 "But while I was on my way and approaching Damascus about noon, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.
7 And when I went down on the earth, a voice came to my ears saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me so cruelly?
7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?'
8 And I, answering, said, Who are you; Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are attacking.
8 And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am (R)Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’
8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
8 “I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’“He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the One you are persecuting!’
8 "I answered, "Who are you, Lord?'
9 And those who were with me saw the light, but the voice of him who was talking to me came not to their ears.
9 And those who were with me (S)saw the light, to be sure, but (T)did not (f)understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
9 Now those who were with me saw the light,(b) but they did not hear the voice of the One who was speaking to me.(I)
9 "He told me, "I'm Jesus from Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' The men who were with me saw the light but didn't understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
10 And I said, What have I to do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Get up, and go into Damascus; and it will be made clear to you what you have to do.
10 And I said, ‘(U)What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’
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.
10 “Then I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’“And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that is assigned for you to do.’
10 "Then I asked, "What am I to do, Lord?'
11 And because I was unable to see because of the glory of that light, those who were with me took me by the hand, and so I came to Damascus.
11 But since I (V)could not see because of the (g)brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.
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.
11 “Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.(J)
11 "The Lord told me, "Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are destined to do.' Since I could not see because of the brightness of the light, the men who were with me took me by the hand and led me into Damascus.
12 And one Ananias, a God-fearing man, who kept the law, and of whom all the Jews in that place had a high opinion,
12 “A certain (W)Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and (X)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,
12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
12 Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good reputation with all the Jews residing there,(K)
12 "A certain Ananias, who was a devout man with respect to the Law and who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,
13 Came to my side and said, Brother Saul, let your eyes be open. And in that very hour I was able to see him.
13 came to me, and standing near said to me, ‘(Y)Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And (h)(Z)at that very time I looked up at him.
13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
13 came and stood by me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And in that very hour I looked up and saw him.
13 came to me. He stood beside me and said, "Brother Saul, receive your sight!' At that moment I could see him.
14 And he said, You have been marked out by the God of our fathers to have knowledge of his purpose, and to see the Upright One and to give ear to the words of his mouth.
14 And he said, ‘(AA)The God of our fathers has (AB)appointed you to know His will and to (AC)see the (AD)Righteous One and to hear an (i)utterance from His mouth.
14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed(L) you to know His will, to see(M) the Righteous One,(N) and to hear the sound of His voice.(c)
14 "Then he said, "The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear his own voice,
16 And now, why are you waiting? get up, and have baptism, for the washing away of your sins, giving worship to his name.
16 Now why do you delay? (AG)Get up and be baptized, and (AH)wash away your sins, (AI)calling on His name.’
16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
16 And now, why delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins(P) by calling on His name.’(Q)
16 So now, what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away as you call on his name.'
17 And it came about that when I had come back to Jerusalem, while I was at prayer in the Temple, my senses became more than naturally clear,
17 “It happened when I (AJ)returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I (AK)fell into a trance,
17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
17 “After I came back to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple complex, I went into a visionary state(R)
17 "Then I returned to Jerusalem. While I was praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance
18 And I saw him saying to me, Go out of Jerusalem straight away because they will not give hearing to your witness about me.
18 and I saw Him saying to me, ‘(AL)Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’
18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
18 and saw Him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me!’
18 and saw the Lord saying to me, "Hurry up and get out of Jerusalem at once, because the people won't accept your testimony about me.'
19 And I said, Lord, they themselves have knowledge that I went through the Synagogues putting in prison and whipping all those who had faith in you:
19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another (AM)I used to imprison and (AN)beat those who believed in You.
19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
19 “But I said, ‘Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in You imprisoned and beaten.(S)
19 "I said, "Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I kept imprisoning and beating those who believe in you.
20 And when Stephen your witness was put to death, I was there, giving approval, and looking after the clothing of those who put him to death.
20 And (AO)when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.’
20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.
20 And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I was standing by and approving,(d) and I guarded the clothes of those who killed him.’(T)
20 Even when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I was standing there, approving it and guarding the coats of those who were killing him.'
22 And they gave him a hearing as far as this word; then with loud voices they said, Away with this man from the earth; it is not right for him to be living.
22 They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “(AQ)Away with such a fellow from the earth, for (AR)he should not be allowed to live!”
22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
22 They listened to him up to this word. Then they raised their voices, shouting, “Wipe this person off the earth—it’s a disgrace for him to live!”(V)
22 Up to this point they listened to him, but then they began to shout, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! He's not fit to go on living!"
24 The chief captain gave orders for him to be taken into the army building, saying that he would put him to the test by whipping, so that he might have knowledge of the reason why they were crying out so violently against him.
24 the (j)commander ordered him to be brought into (AU)the barracks, stating that he should be (AV)examined by scourging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way.
24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, directing that he be examined with the scourge, so he could discover the reason they were shouting against him like this.
24 the tribune ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks and told the soldiers to beat and question him in order to find out why the people were yelling at him like this.
25 And when they had put leather bands round him, Paul said to the captain who was present, Is it the law for you to give blows to a man who is a Roman and has not been judged?
25 But when they stretched him out (k)with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it (l)lawful for you to scourge (AW)a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?”
25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
25 As they stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing by, “Is it legal for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and is uncondemned?”(X)
25 But when they had tied him up with the straps, Paul asked the centurion who was standing there, "Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn't been condemned?"
26 And hearing this, the man went to the chief captain and gave him an account of it, saying, What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.
26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the (m)commander and told him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.”
26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
26 When the centurion heard this, he went and reported to the commander, saying, “What are you going to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”
26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and told him, "What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!"
27 And the chief captain came to him and said, Give me an answer, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes.
27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
27 The commander came and said to him, “Tell me—are you a Roman citizen?”“Yes,” he said.
27 So the tribune went and asked Paul, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes," he said.
28 And the chief captain said, I got Roman rights for myself at a great price. And Paul said, But I had them by birth.
28 The (o)commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I was actually born a citizen.”
28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
28 The commander replied, “I bought this citizenship for a large amount of money.”“But I was born a citizen,” Paul said.
28 Then the tribune replied, "I paid a lot of money for this citizenship of mine."
29 Then those who were about to put him to the test went away: and the chief captain was in fear, seeing that he was a Roman, and that he had put chains on him.
29 Therefore those who were about to (AX)examine him immediately (p)let go of him; and the (q)commander also (AY)was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had (r)(AZ)put him in chains.
29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
29 Therefore, those who were about to examine him withdrew from him at once. The commander too was alarmed when he realized Paul was a Roman citizen and he had bound him.(Y)
29 Paul said, "But I was born a citizen." Immediately those who were about to examine him stepped back, and the tribune was afraid when he found out that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had tied him up.
30 But on the day after, desiring to have certain knowledge of what the Jews had to say against him, he made him free, and gave orders for the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to come together, and he took Paul and put him before them.
30 But on the next day, (BA)wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he (BB)released him and ordered the chief priests and all (BC)the (s)Council to assemble, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
30 The next day, since he wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him(e) and instructed the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to convene.(Z) Then he brought Paul down and placed him before them. >
30 The next day, since the tribune wanted to find out exactly what Paul was being accused of by the Jews, he released him and ordered the high priests and the entire Council to meet. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.
Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain
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