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Acts 1–28 available · Reviewed and cleared by the author.
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Learn about the sources and coverage →“Brothers and fathers, please listen as I present my defense to you.”
Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
Ἄνδρες ἀδελφοὶ καὶ πατέρες, ἀκούσατέ μου τῆς πρὸς ὑμᾶς νυνὶ ἀπολογίας.
Andres adelphoi kai pateres, akousate mou tēs pros hymas nyni apologias.
When they heard him speaking to them in the Hebrew language, they grew even quieter. Paul continued:
(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
Ἀκούσαντες δὲ ὅτι τῇ Ἑβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ προσεφώνει αὐτοῖς, μᾶλλον παρέσχον ἡσυχίαν. Καί φησιν,
Akousantes de hoti tē Hebraidi dialektō prosephōnei autois, mallon pareschon hēsychian. Kai phēsin,
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia but brought up here in this city. Under Gamaliel, I was thoroughly instructed in the law of our ancestors. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.
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.
Ἐγὼ μέν εἰμι ἀνὴρ Ἰουδαῖος, γεγεννημένος ἐν Ταρσῷ τῆς Κιλικίας, ἀνατεθραμμένος δὲ ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ παρὰ τοὺς πόδας Γαμαλιήλ, πεπαιδευμένος κατὰ ἀκρίβειαν τοῦ πατρῴου νόμου, ζηλωτὴς ὑπάρχων τοῦ θεοῦ, καθὼς πάντες ὑμεῖς ἐστε σήμερον∙
Egō men eimi anēr Ioudaios, gegennēmenos en Tarsō tēs Kilikias, anatethrammenos de en tē polei tautē para tous podas Gamaliēl, pepaideumenos kata akribeian tou patrōou nomou, zēlōtēs hyparchōn tou theou, kathōs pantes hymeis este sēmeron;
I persecuted the people of this Way, even to the point of death. I had men and women bound and handed over for imprisonment.
And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
ὃς ταύτην τὴν ὁδὸν ἐδίωξα ἄχρι θανάτου, δεσμεύων καὶ παραδιδοὺς εἰς φυλακὰς ἄνδρας τε καὶ γυναῖκας.
hos tautēn tēn hodon ediōxa achri thanatou, desmeuōn kai paradidous eis phylakas andras te kai gynaikas.
The high priest and the entire council of elders can confirm this. They gave me letters addressed to our fellow Jews in Damascus. I was traveling there to arrest the believers and bring them back to Jerusalem in chains to be punished.
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.
Ὡς καὶ ὁ ἀρχιερεὺς μαρτυρεῖ μοι, καὶ πᾶν τὸ πρεσβυτέριον∙ παρ’ ὧν καὶ ἐπιστολὰς δεξάμενος πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφούς, εἰς Δαμασκὸν ἐπορευόμην, ἄξων καὶ τοὺς ἐκεῖσε ὄντας δεδεμένους εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, ἵνα τιμωρηθῶσιν.
Hōs kai ho archiereus martyrei moi, kai pan to presbyterion; par’ hōn kai epistolas dexamenos pros tous adelphous, eis Damaskon eporeuomēn, axōn kai tous ekeise ontas dedemenous eis Hierousalēm, hina timōrēthōsin.
“As I approached Damascus on that journey, around midday, a powerful light from heaven suddenly flashed all around me.
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.
Ἐγένετο δέ μοι πορευομένῳ καὶ ἐγγίζοντι τῇ Δαμασκῷ, περὶ μεσημβρίαν, ἐξαίφνης ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ περιαστράψαι φῶς ἱκανὸν περὶ ἐμέ.
Egeneto de moi poreuomenō kai engizonti tē Damaskō, peri mesēmbrian, exaiphnēs ek tou ouranou periastrapsai phōs hikanon peri eme.
I fell to the ground and heard a voice asking me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Ἔπεσά τε εἰς τὸ ἔδαφος, καὶ ἤκουσα φωνῆς λεγούσης μοι, Σαούλ, Σαούλ, τί με διώκεις;
Epesa te eis to edaphos, kai ēkousa phōnēs legousēs moi, Saoul, Saoul, ti me diōkeis?
I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ He told me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the One you are persecuting.’
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
Ἐγὼ δὲ ἀπεκρίθην, Τίς εἶ, κύριε; Εἶπέν τε πρός με, Ἐγώ εἰμι Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος ὃν σὺ διώκεις.
Egō de apekrithēn, Tis ei, kyrie? Eipen te pros me, Egō eimi Iēsous ho Nazōraios hon sy diōkeis.
Those traveling with me saw the light and became afraid, but they did not hear the voice of the One speaking to me.
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.
Οἱ δὲ σὺν ἐμοὶ ὄντες τὸ μὲν φῶς ἐθεάσαντο, καὶ ἔμφοβοι ἐγένοντο∙ τὴν δὲ φωνὴν οὐκ ἤκουσαν τοῦ λαλοῦντός μοι.
Hoi de syn emoi ontes to men phōs etheasanto, kai emphoboi egenonto; tēn de phōnēn ouk ēkousan tou lalountos moi.
I asked, ‘Lord, what am I to do?’ The Lord told me, ‘Get up and enter Damascus. There you will be told everything you have been appointed to do.’
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.
Εἶπον δέ, Τί ποιήσω, κύριε; Ὁ δὲ κύριος εἶπεν πρός με, Ἀναστὰς πορεύου εἰς Δαμασκόν∙ κἀκεῖ σοι λαληθήσεται περὶ πάντων ὧν τέτακταί σοι ποιῆσαι.
Eipon de, Ti poiēsō, kyrie? Ho de kyrios eipen pros me, Anastas poreuou eis Damaskon; kakei soi lalēthēsetai peri pantōn hōn tetaktai soi poiēsai.
The brilliance of that light had left me unable to see. My companions took me by the hand and led me into Damascus.
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.
Ὡς δὲ οὐκ ἐνέβλεπον ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τοῦ φωτὸς ἐκείνου, χειραγωγούμενος ὑπὸ τῶν συνόντων μοι, ἦλθον εἰς Δαμασκόν.
Hōs de ouk eneblepon apo tēs doxēs tou phōtos ekeinou, cheiragōgoumenos hypo tōn synontōn moi, ēlthon eis Damaskon.
“A man named Ananias lived there. He was devout in keeping the law, and all the Jews who lived there spoke well of him.
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
Ἀνανίας δέ τις, ἀνὴρ εὐσεβὴς κατὰ τὸν νόμον, μαρτυρούμενος ὑπὸ πάντων τῶν κατοικούντων Ἰουδαίων,
Ananias de tis, anēr eusebēs kata ton nomon, martyroumenos hypo pantōn tōn katoikountōn Ioudaiōn,
He came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘see again!’ At that very moment I could see him.
Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
ἐλθὼν πρός με καὶ ἐπιστὰς εἶπέν μοι, Σαοὺλ ἀδελφέ, ἀνάβλεψον. Κἀγὼ αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἀνέβλεψα εἰς αὐτόν.
elthōn pros me kai epistas eipen moi, Saoul adelphe, anablepson. Kagō autē tē hōra aneblepsa eis auton.
Then he told me, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you to know His will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear Him speak.
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.
Ὁ δὲ εἶπεν, Ὁ θεὸς τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν προεχειρίσατό σε γνῶναι τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἰδεῖν τὸν δίκαιον, καὶ ἀκοῦσαι φωνὴν ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ.
Ho de eipen, Ho theos tōn paterōn hēmōn proecheirisato se gnōnai to thelēma autou, kai idein ton dikaion, kai akousai phōnēn ek tou stomatos autou.
You will tell people everywhere what you have seen and heard as His witness.
For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
Ὅτι ἔσῃ μάρτυς αὐτῷ πρὸς πάντας ἀνθρώπους ὧν ἑώρακας καὶ ἤκουσας.
Hoti esē martys autō pros pantas anthrōpous hōn heōrakas kai ēkousas.
What are you waiting for now? Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Καὶ νῦν τί μέλλεις; Ἀναστὰς βάπτισαι καὶ ἀπόλουσαι τὰς ἁμαρτίας σου, ἐπικαλεσάμενος τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου.
Kai nyn ti melleis? Anastas baptisai kai apolousai tas hamartias sou, epikalesamenos to onoma tou kyriou.
“After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the temple when I fell into a trance.
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;
Ἐγένετο δέ μοι ὑποστρέψαντι εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, καὶ προσευχομένου μου ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ, γενέσθαι με ἐν ἐκστάσει,
Egeneto de moi hypostrepsanti eis Hierousalēm, kai proseuchomenou mou en tō hierō, genesthai me en ekstasei,
I saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly. They will not accept your testimony about Me.’
And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
καὶ ἰδεῖν αὐτὸν λέγοντά μοι, Σπεῦσον καὶ ἔξελθε ἐν τάχει ἐξ Ἱερουσαλήμ∙ διότι οὐ παραδέξονταί σου τὴν μαρτυρίαν περὶ ἐμοῦ.
kai idein auton legonta moi, Speuson kai exelthe en tachei ex Hierousalēm; dioti ou paradexontai sou tēn martyrian peri emou.
I answered, ‘Lord, they know that I went from synagogue to synagogue, imprisoning and beating those who believed in You.
And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
Κἀγὼ εἶπον, Κύριε, αὐτοὶ ἐπίστανται ὅτι ἐγὼ ἤμην φυλακίζων καὶ δέρων κατὰ τὰς συναγωγὰς τοὺς πιστεύοντας ἐπὶ σέ∙
Kagō eipon, Kyrie, autoi epistantai hoti egō ēmēn phylakizōn kai derōn kata tas synagōgas tous pisteuontas epi se;
When Your witness Stephen was being killed, I stood there approving of his death and guarding the clothes of those killing him.’
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.
καὶ ὅτε ἐξεχεῖτο τὸ αἷμα Στεφάνου τοῦ μάρτυρός σου, καὶ αὐτὸς ἤμην ἐφεστὼς καὶ συνευδοκῶν τῇ ἀναιρέσει αὐτοῦ, φυλάσσων τὰ ἱμάτια τῶν ἀναιρούντων αὐτόν.
kai hote execheito to haima Stephanou tou martyros sou, kai autos ēmēn ephestōs kai syneudokōn tē anairesei autou, phylassōn ta himatia tōn anairountōn auton.
But He told me, ‘Go. I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
Καὶ εἶπεν πρός με, Πορεύου, ὅτι ἐγὼ εἰς ἔθνη μακρὰν ἐξαποστελῶ σε.
Kai eipen pros me, Poreuou, hoti egō eis ethnē makran exapostelō se.
The crowd had listened until Paul said this. Then they shouted, “Get a man like that off the face of the earth! He has no right to live!”
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.
Ἤκουον δὲ αὐτοῦ ἄχρι τούτου τοῦ λόγου, καὶ ἐπῆραν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτῶν λέγοντες, Αἶρε ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς τὸν τοιοῦτον∙ οὐ γὰρ καθῆκεν αὐτὸν ζῇν.
Ēkouon de autou achri toutou tou logou, kai epēran tēn phōnēn autōn legontes, Aire apo tēs gēs ton toiouton; ou gar kathēken auton zēn.
They kept shouting, flinging their clothes about and throwing dust into the air.
And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
Κραζόντων δὲ αὐτῶν, καὶ ῥιπτούντων τὰ ἱμάτια, καὶ κονιορτὸν βαλλόντων εἰς τὸν ἀέρα,
Krazontōn de autōn, kai rhiptountōn ta himatia, kai koniorton ballontōn eis ton aera,
The commander ordered Paul taken into the barracks. He directed that Paul be questioned under the lash, so that he could find out why the people were shouting against him like this.
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.
ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν ὁ χιλίαρχος ἄγεσθαι εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν, εἰπὼν μάστιξιν ἀνετάζεσθαι αὐτόν, ἵνα ἐπιγνῷ δι’ ἣν αἰτίαν οὕτως ἐπεφώνουν αὐτῷ.
ekeleusen auton ho chiliarchos agesthai eis tēn parembolēn, eipōn mastixin anetazesthai auton, hina epignō di’ hēn aitian houtōs epephōnoun autō.
As they stretched Paul out with the straps, he asked the centurion standing nearby, “Does the law allow you to whip a Roman citizen who has not been convicted?”
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?
Ὡς δὲ προέτεινεν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἱμᾶσιν, εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν ἑστῶτα ἑκατόνταρχον ὁ Παῦλος, Εἰ ἄνθρωπον Ῥωμαῖον καὶ ἀκατάκριτον ἔξεστιν ὑμῖν μαστίζειν;
Hōs de proeteinen auton tois himasin, eipen pros ton hestōta hekatontarchon ho Paulos, Ei anthrōpon Rhōmaion kai akatakriton exestin hymin mastizein?
The centurion heard this and went to warn the commander. “Be careful what you are about to do,” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen!”
When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
Ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος, προσελθὼν ἀπήγγειλεν τῷ χιλιάρχῳ λέγων, Ὅρα τί μέλλεις ποιεῖν∙ ὁ γὰρ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος Ῥωμαῖός ἐστιν.
Akousas de ho hekatontarchos, proselthōn apēngeilen tō chiliarchō legōn, Hora ti melleis poiein; ho gar anthrōpos houtos Rhōmaios estin.
The commander approached Paul. “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” he asked. “Yes,” Paul replied.
Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
Προσελθὼν δὲ ὁ χιλίαρχος εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Λέγε μοι, εἰ σὺ Ῥωμαῖος εἶ; Ὁ δὲ ἔφη, Ναί.
Proselthōn de ho chiliarchos eipen autō, Lege moi, ei sy Rhōmaios ei? Ho de ephē, Nai.
“It cost me a great deal of money to obtain that citizenship,” the commander said. Paul answered, “I was born with it.”
And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
Ἀπεκρίθη τε ὁ χιλίαρχος, Ἐγὼ πολλοῦ κεφαλαίου τὴν πολιτείαν ταύτην ἐκτησάμην. Ὁ δὲ Παῦλος ἔφη, Ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ γεγέννημαι.
Apekrithē te ho chiliarchos, Egō pollou kephalaiou tēn politeian tautēn ektēsamēn. Ho de Paulos ephē, Egō de kai gegennēmai.
The men about to interrogate Paul immediately stepped away. The commander was frightened too, realizing that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had put him in chains.
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.
Εὐθέως οὖν ἀπέστησαν ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ οἱ μέλλοντες αὐτὸν ἀνετάζειν. Καὶ ὁ χιλίαρχος δὲ ἐφοβήθη, ἐπιγνοὺς ὅτι Ῥωμαῖός ἐστιν, καὶ ὅτι ἦν αὐτὸν δεδεκώς.
Eutheōs oun apestēsan ap’ autou hoi mellontes auton anetazein. Kai ho chiliarchos de ephobēthē, epignous hoti Rhōmaios estin, kai hoti ēn auton dedekōs.
The next day, wanting to establish exactly why the Jews were accusing Paul, the commander removed his chains. He ordered the chief priests and their whole council to assemble, then brought Paul down to stand before them.
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.
Τῇ δὲ ἐπαύριον βουλόμενος γνῶναι τὸ ἀσφαλές, τὸ τί κατηγορεῖται παρὰ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, ἔλυσεν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῶν δεσμῶν, καὶ ἐκέλευσεν ἐλθεῖν τοὺς ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ ὅλον τὸ συνέδριον αὐτῶν, καὶ καταγαγὼν τὸν Παῦλον ἔστησεν εἰς αὐτούς.
Tē de epaurion boulomenos gnōnai to asphales, to ti katēgoreitai para tōn Ioudaiōn, elysen auton apo tōn desmōn, kai ekeleusen elthein tous archiereis kai holon to synedrion autōn, kai katagagōn ton Paulon estēsen eis autous.