Thematic Bible

Acts 22:1

Men, brothers and fathers, hear my present defense before you.

Acts 22:2

And hearing that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept the greater silence.

Acts 22:3

And he said, I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, instructed at the feet of Gamaliel in the accurate interpretation of the law of our fathers, and am a zealous worshipper of God as you all are to-day;

Acts 22:4

and I persecuted this way to death, binding and committing to prison both men and women,

Acts 22:5

as the chief priest also bears me witness, and all the eldership, from whom also receiving letters to the brothers I went to Damascus, to bring those who were there bound to Jerusalem to be punished.

Acts 22:6

And when I was on the way and had come nigh to Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me,

Acts 22:7

and I fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?

Acts 22:8

And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazoraean, whom you persecute.

Acts 22:9

And those that were with me saw the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me.

Acts 22:10

And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go to Damascus, and there it shall be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do.

Acts 22:11

And when I could not see from the brightness of that light, being led by the hand by those with me, I came to Damascus.

Acts 22:12

And a certain Ananias, a man [living] according to the law, approved by all the Jews living [there],

Acts 22:13

coming and standing by, said to me, Brother Saul, Receive your sight. And in that hour I looked upon him.

Acts 22:14

And he said, The God of our fathers chose you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and hear the voice of his mouth,

Acts 22:15

for you shall be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.

Acts 22:16

And now, why do you delay? Arising, baptize and wash away your sins, calling on his name.

Acts 22:17

And when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I was in a trance,

Acts 22:18

and saw him [Christ], saying to me, Hasten and depart immediately from Jerusalem, for they will not receive your testimony of me.

Acts 22:19

And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in the synagogues those who believed on you;

Acts 22:20

and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was poured out, I also stood by and consented, and kept the clothes of those that killed him.

Acts 22:21

And he said to me, Go, for I will send you to nations far away.

Acts 22:22

And they heard him to this word, and lifted up their voice saying, Take away such a man from the earth; it is not fit that he should live.

Acts 22:23

And as they cried and rent their clothes and cast dust in the air,

Acts 22:24

the chiliarch commanded him to be brought into the fortress, ordering that he should be examined with scourges, that he might know for what reason they cried so against him.

Acts 22:25

But when they extended him with cords, he said to the centurion standing by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man, a Roman, and uncondemned?

Acts 22:26

And the centurion hearing this, went and told the chiliarch, saying, What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.

Acts 22:27

And the chiliarch came to him and said, Tell me, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes.

Acts 22:28

And the chiliarch answered, I acquired this citizenship for a great price. But Paul said, I am indeed, and was also born [one].

Acts 22:29

Then those about to examine him immediately withdrew from him; and the chiliarch was afraid, knowing that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

Acts 22:30

AND on the next day, wishing to know the truth in respect to what he was accused of by the Jews, [the chiliarch] released him, and commanded the chief priests and all the Sanhedrim to come together; and bringing Paul down he set him before them.