rsv - Acts:21:27-22:29

rsv@Acts:21:27 @ When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, who had seen him in the temple, stirred up all the crowd, and laid hands on him,

rsv@Acts:21:28 @ crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching men everywhere against the people and the law and this place; moreover he also brought Greeks into the temple, and he has defiled this holy place."

rsv@Acts:21:29 @ For they had previously seen Troph'imus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

rsv@Acts:21:30 @ Then all the city was aroused, and the people ran together; they seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.

rsv@Acts:21:31 @ And as they were trying to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

rsv@Acts:21:32 @ He at once took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them; and when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

rsv@Acts:21:33 @ Then the tribune came up and arrested him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done.

rsv@Acts:21:34 @ Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another; and as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.

rsv@Acts:21:35 @ And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd;

rsv@Acts:21:36 @ for the mob of the people followed, crying, "Away with him!"

rsv@Acts:21:37 @ As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek?

rsv@Acts:21:38 @ Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?"

rsv@Acts:21:39 @ Paul replied, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cili'cia, a citizen of no mean city; I beg you, let me speak to the people."

rsv@Acts:21:40 @ And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people; and when there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying:

rsv@Acts:22:1 @ "Brethren and fathers, hear the defense which I now make before you."

rsv@Acts:22:2 @ And when they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet. And he said:

rsv@Acts:22:3 @ "I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cili'cia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gama'li-el, educated according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all are this day.

rsv@Acts:22:4 @ I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,

rsv@Acts:22:5 @ as the high priest and the whole council of elders bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brethren, and I journeyed to Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

rsv@Acts:22:6 @ "As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.

rsv@Acts:22:7 @ And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'

rsv@Acts:22:8 @ And I answered, `Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, `I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.'

rsv@Acts:22:9 @ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

rsv@Acts:22:10 @ And I said, `What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, `Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.'

rsv@Acts:22:11 @ And when I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

rsv@Acts:22:12 @ "And one Anani'as, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,

rsv@Acts:22:13 @ came to me, and standing by me said to me, `Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And in that very hour I received my sight and saw him.

rsv@Acts:22:14 @ And he said, `The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth;

rsv@Acts:22:15 @ for you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.

rsv@Acts:22:16 @ And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'

rsv@Acts:22:17 @ "When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance

rsv@Acts:22:18 @ and saw him saying to me, `Make haste and get quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not accept your testimony about me.'

rsv@Acts:22:19 @ And I said, `Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in thee.

rsv@Acts:22:20 @ And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by and approving, and keeping the garments of those who killed him.'

rsv@Acts:22:21 @ And he said to me, `Depart; for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"

rsv@Acts:22:22 @ Up to this word they listened to him; then they lifted up their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he ought not to live."

rsv@Acts:22:23 @ And as they cried out and waved their garments and threw dust into the air,

rsv@Acts:22:24 @ the tribune commanded him to be brought into the barracks, and ordered him to be examined by scourging, to find out why they shouted thus against him.

rsv@Acts:22:25 @ But when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?"

rsv@Acts:22:26 @ When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen."

rsv@Acts:22:27 @ So the tribune came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" And he said, "Yes."

rsv@Acts:22:28 @ The tribune answered, "I bought this citizenship for a large sum." Paul said, "But I was born a citizen."

rsv@Acts:22:29 @ So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him instantly; and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.