1 My brothers and fathers, give ear to the story of my life which I now put before you.2 And, hearing him talking in the Hebrew language, they became the more quiet, and he said,3 I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia by birth, but I had my education in this town at the feet of Gamaliel, being trained in the keeping of every detail of the law of our fathers; given up to the cause of God with all my heart, as you are today.4 And I made attacks on this Way, even to death, taking men and women and putting them in prison.5 Of which the high priest will be a witness, and all the rulers, from whom I had letters to the brothers; and I went into Damascus, to take those who were there as prisoners to Jerusalem for punishment.6 And it came about that while I was on my journey, coming near to Damascus, about the middle of the day, suddenly I saw a great light from heaven shining round me.7 And when I went down on the earth, a voice came to my ears saying to me, Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me so cruelly?8 And I, answering, said, Who are you; Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are attacking.9 And those who were with me saw the light, but the voice of him who was talking to me came not to their ears.10 And I said, What have I to do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Get up, and go into Damascus; and it will be made clear to you what you have to do.11 And because I was unable to see because of the glory of that light, those who were with me took me by the hand, and so I came to Damascus.12 And one Ananias, a God-fearing man, who kept the law, and of whom all the Jews in that place had a high opinion,13 Came to my side and said, Brother Saul, let your eyes be open. And in that very hour I was able to see him.14 And he said, You have been marked out by the God of our fathers to have knowledge of his purpose, and to see the Upright One and to give ear to the words of his mouth.15 For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and of what has come to your ears.16 And now, why are you waiting? get up, and have baptism, for the washing away of your sins, giving worship to his name.17 And it came about that when I had come back to Jerusalem, while I was at prayer in the Temple, my senses became more than naturally clear,18 And I saw him saying to me, Go out of Jerusalem straight away because they will not give hearing to your witness about me.19 And I said, Lord, they themselves have knowledge that I went through the Synagogues putting in prison and whipping all those who had faith in you:20 And when Stephen your witness was put to death, I was there, giving approval, and looking after the clothing of those who put him to death.21 And he said to me, Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.22 And they gave him a hearing as far as this word; then with loud voices they said, Away with this man from the earth; it is not right for him to be living.23 And while they were crying out, and pulling off their clothing, and sending dust into the air,24 The chief captain gave orders for him to be taken into the army building, saying that he would put him to the test by whipping, so that he might have knowledge of the reason why they were crying out so violently against him.25 And when they had put leather bands round him, Paul said to the captain who was present, Is it the law for you to give blows to a man who is a Roman and has not been judged?26 And hearing this, the man went to the chief captain and gave him an account of it, saying, What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.27 And the chief captain came to him and said, Give me an answer, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes.28 And the chief captain said, I got Roman rights for myself at a great price. And Paul said, But I had them by birth.29 Then those who were about to put him to the test went away: and the chief captain was in fear, seeing that he was a Roman, and that he had put chains on him.30 But on the day after, desiring to have certain knowledge of what the Jews had to say against him, he made him free, and gave orders for the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to come together, and he took Paul and put him before them.

1 Viri fratres, et patres, audite quam ad vos nunc reddo rationem. 2 Cum audissent autem quia hebra lingua loqueretur ad illos, magis prstiterunt silentium. 3 Et dicit : Ego sum vir Judus, natus in Tarso Cilici, nutritus autem in ista civitate, secus pedes Gamaliel eruditus juxta veritatem patern legis, mulator legis, sicut et vos omnes estis hodie : 4 qui hanc viam persecutus sum usque ad mortem, alligans et tradens in custodias viros ac mulieres, 5 sicut princeps sacerdotum mihi testimonium reddit, et omnes majores natu : a quibus et epistolas accipiens, ad fratres Damascum pergebam, ut adducerem inde vinctos in Jerusalem ut punirentur. 6 Factum est autem, eunte me, et appropinquante Damasco media die, subito de clo circumfulsit me lux copiosa : 7 et decidens in terram, audivi vocem dicentem mihi : Saule, Saule, quid me persequeris ? 8 Ego autem respondi : Quis es, domine ? Dixitque ad me : Ego sum Jesus Nazarenus, quem tu persequeris. 9 Et qui mecum erant, lumen quidem viderunt, vocem autem non audierunt ejus qui loquebatur mecum. 10 Et dixi : Quid faciam, domine ? Dominus autem dixit ad me : Surgens vade Damascum : et ibi tibi dicetur de omnibus qu te oporteat facere. 11 Et cum non viderem pr claritate luminis illius, ad manum deductus a comitibus, veni Damascum. 12 Ananias autem quidam vir secundum legem, testimonium habens ab omnibus cohabitantibus Judis, 13 veniens ad me et astans, dixit mihi : Saule frater, respice. Et ego eadem hora respexi in eum. 14 At ille dixit : Deus patrum nostrorum prordinavit te, ut cognosceres voluntatem ejus, et videres justum, et audires vocem ex ore ejus : 15 quia eris testis illius ad omnes homines eorum qu vidisti et audisti. 16 Et nunc quid moraris ? Exsurge, et baptizare, et ablue peccata tua, invocato nomine ipsius. 17 Factum est autem revertenti mihi in Jerusalem, et oranti in templo, fieri me in stupore mentis, 18 et videre illum dicentem mihi : Festina, et exi velociter ex Jerusalem : quoniam non recipient testimonium tuum de me. 19 Et ego dixi : Domine, ipsi sciunt quia ego eram concludens in carcerem, et cdans per synagogas eos qui credebant in te : 20 et cum funderetur sanguis Stephani testis tui, ego astabam, et consentiebam, et custodiebam vestimenta interficientium illum. 21 Et dixit ad me : Vade, quoniam ego in nationes longe mittam te. 22 Audiebant autem eum usque ad hoc verbum, et levaverunt vocem suam, dicentes : Tolle de terra hujusmodi : non enim fas est eum vivere.23 Vociferantibus autem eis, et projicientibus vestimenta sua, et pulverem jactantibus in arem, 24 jussit tribunus induci eum in castra, et flagellis cdi, et torqueri eum, ut sciret propter quam causam sic acclamarent ei. 25 Et cum astrinxissent eum loris, dicit astanti sibi centurioni Paulus : Si hominem Romanum et indemnatum licet vobis flagellare ? 26 Quo audito, centurio accessit ad tribunum, et nuntiavit ei, dicens : Quid acturus es ? hic enim homo civis Romanus est. 27 Accedens autem tribunus, dixit illi : Dic mihi si tu Romanus es ? At ille dixit : Etiam. 28 Et respondit tribunus : Ego multa summa civilitatem hanc consecutus sum. Et Paulus ait : Ego autem et natus sum. 29 Protinus ergo discesserunt ab illo qui eum torturi erant. Tribunus quoque timuit postquam rescivit, quia civis Romanus esset, et quia alligasset eum. 30 Postera autem die volens scire diligentius qua ex causa accusaretur a Judis, solvit eum, et jussit sacerdotes convenire, et omne concilium : et producens Paulum, statuit inter illos.