Actuum Apostolorum 22
1 Viri fratres, et patres, audite quam ad vos nunc reddo rationem.
‘Brothers and fathers, listen to the defence which I am about to make.’
2 Cum audissent autem quia Hebræa lingua loqueretur ad illos, magis præstiterunt silentium.
When they heard that he was speaking to them in Hebrew, they were still more quiet; and Paul went on:
3 Et dicit: Ego sum vir Iudæus, natus in Tarso Ciliciæ, nutritus autem in ista civitate, secus pedes Gamaliel eruditus iuxta veritatem paternæ legis, æmulator legis, sicut et vos omnes estis hodie:
‘I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, but I was brought up in this city under the teaching of Gamaliel, and educated in accordance with the strict system of our ancestral Law. I was as zealous in God’s service as any of you who are here today.
4 qui hanc viam persecutus sum usque ad mortem, alligans et tradens in custodias viros ac mulieres,
In my persecution of this Way I did not stop even at the taking of life. I put in chains, and imprisoned, men and women alike –
5 sicut princeps sacerdotum mihi testimonium reddit, et omnes maiores natu, a quibus et epistolas accipiens ad fratres Damascum pergebam, ut adducerem inde vinctos in Ierusalem ut punirentur.
And to that the high priest himself and all the council of elders can testify. For I had letters of introduction from them to our fellow Jews at Damascus, and I was on my way to that place, to bring those whom I might find there prisoners to Jerusalem for punishment.
6 Factum est autem, eunte me, et appropinquante Damasco media die, subito de cælo circumfulsit me lux copiosa:
While I was still on my way, just as I was getting close to Damascus, about midday, suddenly there flashed from the heavens a great light all round me.
7 et decidens in terram, audivi vocem dicentem mihi: Saule, Saule, quid me persequeris?
I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
8 Ego autem respondi: Quis es Domine? Dixitque ad me: Ego sum Iesus Nazarenus, quem tu persequeris.
“Who are you, Lord?” I replied. Then the voice said “I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.”
9 Et qui mecum erant, lumen quidem viderunt, vocem autem non audierunt eius, qui loquebatur mecum.
The men with me saw the light, but did not hear the speaker’s voice.
10 Et dixi: Quid faciam, Domine? Dominus autem dixit ad me: Surgens vade Damascum: et ibi tibi dicetur de omnibus, quæ te oporteat facere.
Then I said “What am I to do, Lord?” “Get up and go into Damascus,” The Lord said to me, “and there you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.”
11 Et cum non viderem præ claritate luminis illius, ad manum deductus a comitibus, veni Damascum.
In consequence of that dazzling light I could not see, but my companions held me by the hand, until I reached Damascus.
12 Ananias autem quidam, vir secundum legem testimonium habens ab omnibus cohabitantibus Iudæis,
There a man named Ananias, a strict observer of our Law, well spoken of by all the Jewish inhabitants, came to see me.
13 veniens ad me, et astans dixit mihi: Saule frater respice. Et ego eadem hora respexi in eum.
Standing close to me, he said “Saul, my brother, recover your sight.” And then and there I recovered my sight and looked up at him.
14 At ille dixit: Deus patrum nostrorum præordinavit te, ut cognosceres voluntatem eius, et videres Iustum, et audires vocem ex ore eius:
Then he said “The God of our ancestors has appointed you to learn his will, and to see the righteous one, and to hear words from his lips;
15 quia eris testis illius ad omnes homines eorum, quæ vidisti, et audisti.
for you will be a witness for him to all the world of what you have just seen and heard.
16 Et nunc quid moraris? Exurge, et baptizare, et ablue peccata tua invocato nomine ipsius.
And now why wait any longer, Be baptized at once, wash away your sins, and invoke his name.”
17 Factum est autem revertenti mihi in Ierusalem, et oranti in templo, fieri me in stupore mentis,
After my return to Jerusalem, while I was praying one day in the Temple, I fell into a trance,
18 et videre illum dicentem mihi: Festina, et exi velociter ex Ierusalem: quoniam non recipient testimonium tuum de me.
and saw Jesus saying to me “Make haste and leave Jerusalem at once, because they will not accept your testimony about me.”
19 Et ego dixi: Domine ipsi sciunt quia ego eram concludens in carcerem, et cædans per synagogas eos, qui credebant in te:
“Lord,” I answered, “these people know that I used to imprison and scourge, in synagogue after synagogue, those who believed in you;
20 et cum funderetur sanguis Stephani testis tui, ego astabam, et consentiebam, et custodiebam vestimenta interficientium illum.
and, when the blood of your martyr, Stephen, was being shed, I was myself standing by, approving of his death, and took charge of the clothes of those who were murdering him.”
21 Et dixit ad me: Vade quoniam ego in nationes longe mittam te.
But Jesus said to me “Go; for I will send you to the Gentiles far away”.’
22 Audiebant autem eum usque ad hoc verbum, et levaverunt vocem suam dicentes: Tolle de terra huiusmodi: non enim fas est eum vivere.
Up to this point the people had been listening to Paul, but at these words they called out, ‘Kill him! A fellow like this ought not to have been allowed to live!’
23 Vociferantibus autem eis, et proiicientibus vestimenta sua, et pulverem iactantibus in aerem,
As they were shouting, tearing off their clothes, and throwing dust in the air,
24 iussit Tribunus induci eum in castra, et flagellis cædi, et torqueri eum, ut sciret propter quam causam sic acclamarent ei.
the commanding officer ordered Paul to be taken into the Fort, and directed that he should be examined under the lash so that he might find out the reason for their outcry against him.
25 Et cum astrinxissent eum loris, dicit astanti sibi Centurioni Paulus: Si hominem Romanum, et indemnatum licet vobis flagellare?
But just as they had tied him up to be scourged, Paul said to the centurion standing near, ‘Is it legal for you to scourge a Roman citizen, unconvicted?’
26 Quo audito, Centurio accessit ad Tribunum, et nunciavit ei, dicens: Quid acturus es? Hic enim homo civis Romanus est.
On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commanding officer. ‘Do you know what you are doing?’ he said. ‘This man is a Roman citizen.’
27 Accedens autem Tribunus, dixit illi: Dic mihi si tu Romanus es? At ille dixit: Etiam.
So the commanding officer went up to Paul and said, ‘Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?’ ‘Yes,’ replied Paul.
28 Et respondit Tribunus: Ego multa summa civilitatem hanc consecutus sum. Et Paulus ait: Ego autem et natus sum.
‘I had to pay a heavy price for my position as citizen,’ said the officer. ‘I am one by birth,’ rejoined Paul.
29 Protinus ergo discesserunt ab illo, qui eum torturi erant. Tribunus quoque timuit postquam rescivit, quia civis Romanus esset, et quia alligasset eum.
The men who were to have examined Paul immediately drew back, and the officer, finding that Paul was a Roman citizen, was alarmed at having put him in chains.
30 Postera autem die volens scire diligentius qua ex causa accusaretur a Iudæis, solvit eum, et iussit sacerdotes convenire, et omne concilium, et producens Paulum, statuit inter illos.
On the next day the commanding officer, wishing to find out the real reason why Paul was denounced by the Jewish leaders, had his chains taken off, and directed the chief priests and the whole of the High Council to assemble, and then took Paul down and brought him before them.
