Paul’s Defense to the Crowd
(Acts 9:1–19; Acts 26:1–23)

1Men, brethren, and fathers, hear now my apology unto you.

2And hearing that he was speaking to them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept silent the more.

3And he says, I am Jewish man, having been born in Tarsus of Cilicia, having been brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the accuracy of patristic law, being a zealot of God, as you all are this day; 4who after this way persecuted unto death, binding and committing to prison both men and women; 5as the high priest also, and all the eldership, witnessed me: from whom having also received letters from the brethren in Damascus, I was on my way, being about to lead them also hither into Jerusalem bound, that they might be punished.

6And it came to pass, while I was journeying, and nigh unto Damascus, a great light, about midday, suddenly shone from heaven around me; 7and I felt upon the ground, and heard a voice, saying to me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 8And I responded, Who art thou, Lord? And He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom thou art persecuting. 9And those being along with me saw the light indeed, but heard not the voice of the one speaking to me. 10And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Rising up, go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee concerning all things which have been ordained for thee to do. 11And when I did not see on account of the glory of that light, and being led by the hand by those journeying with me, I came into Damascus.

12And a certain Ananias, a man godly according to the law, and of good report by all the Jews dwelling there, 13having come to me, and standing over me, said, Brother Saul, look up. And I at that hour looked up unto him. 14And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee to know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice from His mouth; 15because thou shalt be a witness for Him to all men of those things which thou hast seen and heard. 16And now why tarriest thou? arising, be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on His name.

17And it happened unto me, having returned into Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, I was in an ecstasy; 18and I saw Him speaking to me, Hasten, and depart quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 19And I said, Lord, they know that I was imprisoning and binding those believing on thee throughout the synagogue; 20and when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of those killing him. 21And He said to me, Go: because I will send thee far away to the Gentiles.

Paul the Roman Citizen

22And they continued to hear him until this word, and lifted up their voice, saying, Take away such a one from the earth: for it is not appropriate for him to live. 23And they crying out, and rending their garments, and throwing dust into the air, 24the chiliarch commanded that he should be led into the castle, saying that he should be tested by scourges, in order that he might know on account of what cause they continued so to cry out against him. 25And when they were extending him to the scourges, Paul said to the centurion standing by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned? 26And the centurion hearing, having come to the chiliarch, announced to him, saying, What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman. 27And the chiliarch, having come to him, said; Tell me, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes. 28And the chiliarch responded, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I was indeed born (a Roman citizen). 29Then immediately those about to scourge him departed from him: and the chiliarch also feared, knowing that he was a Roman, and that he had bound him.

30And on the following day, wishing to know the certainty as to what he is accused of by the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the sanhedrin to come together, and leading down Paul, he placed him in their midst.