3. Paul's Defence Before the Crowd............... 21:40-22:23
Act 21:40
And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,Act 22:1
Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.Act 22:2
(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)Act 22:3
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.Act 22:4
And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.Act 22:5
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.Act 22:6
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.Act 22:7
And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?Act 22:8
And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.Act 22:9
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.Act 22:10
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.Act 22:11
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.Act 22:12
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,Act 22:13
Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.Act 22:14
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.Act 22:15
For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.Act 22:16
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.Act 22:17
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;Act 22:18
And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.Act 22:19
And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:Act 22:20
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.Act 22:21
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.Act 22:22
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.Act 22:23
And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,