Acts 22
1 “Brothers and Father, listen to the defence which I am about to make.”
Varones hermanos y padres, escuchen ahora mi defensa.
2 When they heard that he was speaking to them in Hebrew, they were still more quiet; and Paul went on:
Cuando oyeron que les hablaba en hebreo, guardaron más quietud.
3 “I am a Jew, a native of 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 to-day.
Yo soy judío, nacido en Tarso de Cilicia, pero criado en esta ciudad, educado a los pies de Gamaliel en estricta conformidad con la Ley de nuestros antepasados. Era celoso de Dios como todos ustedes son hoy.
4 In my persecution of this Cause I did not stop even at the taking of life. I put in chains, and imprisoned, men and women alike —
Perseguí hasta [la] muerte este Camino. Ataba y entregaba en cárceles tanto a varones como a mujeres.
5 And to that the High Priest himself and all the Council 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.
El sumo sacerdote y todos los ancianos saben que me dieron cartas para los hermanos e iba a Damasco a fin de traer atados a Jerusalén aun a los que estaban allí, para que los castigaran.
6 While I was still on my way, just as I was getting close to Damascus, about mid-day, suddenly there flashed from the heavens a great light all round me.
Iba cerca de Damasco. Como al mediodía, de repente una gran luz del cielo resplandeció alrededor de mí.
7 I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
Caí a tierra y oí una voz que me decía: Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues?
8 ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I replied. Then the voice said ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’
Respondí: ¿Quién eres, Señor? Y me dijo: Yo soy Jesús nazareno, a Quién tú persigues.
9 The men with me saw the light, but did not hear the speaker’s voice.
Los que me acompañaban ciertamente vieron la Luz, pero no entendieron la voz del que me hablaba.
10 Then I said ‘What am I to do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ The Lord said to me, ‘and there you shall be told all that you have been appointed to do.’
Entonces pregunté: ¿Qué hago, Señor? Y el Señor me respondió: Levántate y vé a Damasco, y allí se te dirá lo que tienes que hacer.
11 In consequence of that dazzling light I could not see, but my companions held me by the hand, till I reached Damascus.
Como no veía a causa del resplandor de aquella Luz, fui llevado de la mano por mis compañeros a Damasco.
12 There a man named Ananias, a strict observer of our Law, well spoken of by all the Jewish inhabitants, came to see me.
Entonces Ananías, varón piadoso según la Ley, aprobado por todos los judíos que vivían allí,
13 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.
me visitó y me dijo: Hermano Saulo, recobra la visión. En ese instante recobré la vista.
14 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;
Entonces Ananías me dijo: El Dios de nuestros antepasados te escogió para que conozcas su voluntad, veas al Justo y oigas su voz.
15 for you shall be a witness for him to all the world of what you have just seen and heard.
Porque le serás testigo ante todos los hombres de lo que viste y oíste.
16 And now why wait any longer: Be baptized at once, wash away your sins, and invoke his Name.
Ahora pues, ¿por qué demoras? ¡Levántate, bautízate, invoca su Nombre y lava tus pecados!
17 After my return to Jerusalem, while I was praying one day in the Temple, I fell into a trance,
Cuando regresé a Jerusalén, hablaba con Dios en el Templo. Me vino un éxtasis
18 and saw Jesus saying to me ‘Make haste and leave Jerusalem at once, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’
y lo vi cuando me decía: Apresúrate y sal pronto de Jerusalén, porque no creerán lo que digas de Mí.
19 ‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘these people know that I used to imprison and scourge, in Synagogue after Synagogue, those who believed in you;
Yo respondí: Señor, ellos saben que yo encarcelaba y azotaba a los que creen en Ti en todas las congregaciones judías.
20 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.
Cuando era derramada la sangre de Esteban tu testigo, yo mismo estaba allí, di aprobación y guardaba las ropas de quienes lo mataban.
21 But Jesus said to me ‘Go; for I will send you to the Gentiles far away’.”
Pero Él me dijo: Vé porque Yo te enviaré lejos, a los gentiles.
22 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!”
Hasta esa palabra lo escucharon. Alzaron su voz: ¡Extermínalo de la tierra, porque no merece vivir!
23 As they were shouting, tearing off their clothes, and throwing dust in the air,
Mientras ellos gritaban, agitaban los mantos y lanzaban polvo al aire.
24 the Commanding Officer ordered Paul to be taken into the Fort, and directed that he should be examined under the lash, that he might find out the reason for their outcry against him.
El comandante mandó llevarlo al cuartel y ordenó examinarlo con azotes, por qué gritaban así contra él.
25 But just as they had tied him up to be scourged, Paul said to the Captain standing near: “Is it legal for you to scourge a Roman citizen, unconvicted?”
Pero cuando lo estiraron con las correas, Pablo preguntó al centurión: ¿Les es lícito azotar a un ciudadano romano que no ha sido sentenciado?
26 On hearing this, the Captain went and reported it to the Commanding Officer. “Do you know what you are doing?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
Al oír esto, el centurión fue al comandante y le advirtió: ¿Qué vas a hacer? Porque este hombre es romano.
27 So the Commanding Officer went up to Paul and said: “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” replied Paul.
Entonces el comandante le preguntó: Dime, ¿eres tú romano? Y él contestó: Sí.
28 “I had to pay a heavy price for my position as citizen,” said the Officer. “I am one by birth,” rejoined Paul.
El comandante dijo: Yo pagué mucho dinero para adquirir esta ciudadanía. Entonces Pablo dijo: Pues yo nací [ciudadano].
29 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.
Al instante los que iban a interrogarlo se retiraron de él. Y aun el comandante, cuando supo que era romano, se atemorizó porque lo había atado.
30 On the next day the Commanding Officer, wishing to find out the real reason why Paul was denounced by the Jews, 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.
Al día siguiente quería saber por qué era acusado por los judíos. Lo desató. Mandó que se reunieran los principales sacerdotes y todo el Tribunal Supremo. Sacó a Pablo y lo colocó delante de ellos.
