1 Brethren and fathers! Hear ye, the defence, which I now make unto you:2 And, when they heard that, in the Hebrew language, he had begun to address them, they kept the more quiet. And he saith3 I, am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but nurtured in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel,trained after the strictness of our ancestral law; being jealous for God just as, all ye, are this day;4 and, this way, I persecuted unto the death, binding and delivering up into prisons both men and women:5 as, even the High-priest, beareth me witness, and all the Eldership,from whom, letters also, accepting to the brethren, unto Damascus, was I journeying, to bring them who were there bound unto Jerusalem, that they might be punished.6 But it befell me, as I was journeying and drawing nigh unto Damascus, that, about mid-daysuddenlyout of heaven, there flashed a great light all around me;7 I fell also to the ground, and heard a voice saying unto meSaul! Saul! Why, me, art thou persecuting?8 And, I, answeredWho art thou, Lord? And he said unto meI, am Jesus the Nazarene, whom, thou, art persecuting!9 Now, they who were with me, beheld, indeed, the light, but heard not, the voice, of him that was speaking with me10 And saidWhat shall I do, Lord? And, the Lord, said unto meArise, and be going thy way into Damascus, and, there, shall it be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.11 But, as I could not see clearly owing to the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them who were with me, I came into Damascus.12 And, one Ananias, a man devout according to the law, well-attested by all the Jews that dwelt there,13 coming unto me, and standing over me, saidSaul, brother! look up. And, I, in that very hour, looked up on him.14 And he saidThe God of our fathers, hath chosen thee to get to know his will, and to see the Righteous One,and to hear a voice out of his mouth.15 Because thou shalt be a witness to him unto all men, of the things which thou hast seen and heard.16 And, now, what art thou going to do? Arise, and get thyself immersed, and have thy sins bathed away, calling upon his name.17 And it came to pass, when had returned unto Jerusalem, and was praying in the temple, that I came to be in a trance,18 and saw him, saying unto meHaste thee, and go forth speedily out of Jerusalem, inasmuch as they will not accept thy witness concerning me.19 And, I, saidLord! they themselves, well know that I was imprisoning and beating in every synagogue them who were believing on thee.20 And, when the blood of Stephen thy witness was being shed, even I myself, was standing by, and approving, and guarding the mantles of them who were slaying him.21 And he said unto me-Be taking thy journey; because, I, unto nations afar off, will send thee.22 And they hearkened unto him as far as this word, and lifted up their voice, sayingAway from the earth, with such a man as this, for it is not fit that he should live.23 Now, as they were both making an outcry and tearing their mantles,dust, also were throwing into the air,24 the captain ordered him to be brought into the castle, saying, that, with scourging, he should be put to the test,that he might find out, for what cause they were, thus, clamouring against him.25 But, when they had stretched him out with straps, Paul said unto the by-standing centurionA Roman, and uncondemned, is it allowed you to be scourging?26 And, when the centurion heard , he went unto the captain, and reported, sayingWhat art thou going to do? For, this man, is, a Roman?27 And the captain, coming up, said to himTell me! Art, thou, a, Roman? And, he, saidYea!28 And the captain answeredI, for a large sum, this citizenship acquired! And, Paul, saidBut, I, am even, born!29 Straightway, therefore, they who were about to put him to the test, withdrew from him; and, even the captain, was struck with fear, when he found out he was, a Roman, and because, him, he had bound.30 But, on the morrow, being minded to get to know the certainty as to why he was being accused by the Jews, he released him, and ordered the High-priests and all the High-council to come together; and, bringing down Paul, set him before them.

1 Varões irmãos e pais, ouvi agora a minha defesa perante vós. 2 (E, quando ouviram falar-lhes em língua hebraica, maior silêncio guardaram.) E disse:

3 Quanto a mim, sou varão judeu, nascido em Tarso da Cilícia, mas criado nesta cidade aos pés de Gamaliel, instruído conforme a verdade da lei de nossos pais, zeloso para com Deus, como todos vós hoje sois. 4 Persegui este Caminho até à morte, prendendo e metendo em prisões, tanto homens como mulheres, 5 como também o sumo sacerdote me é testemunha, e todo o conselho dos anciãos; e, recebendo destes cartas para os irmãos, fui a Damasco, para trazer manietados para Jerusalém aqueles que ali estivessem, a fim de que fossem castigados.

6 Ora, aconteceu que, indo eu já de caminho e chegando perto de Damasco, quase ao meio-dia, de repente me rodeou uma grande luz do céu. 7 E caí por terra e ouvi uma voz que me dizia: Saulo, Saulo, por que me persegues? 8 E eu respondi: Quem és, Senhor? E disse-me: Eu sou Jesus, o Nazareno, a quem tu persegues. 9 E os que estavam comigo viram, em verdade, a luz, e se atemorizaram muito; mas não ouviram a voz daquele que falava comigo. 10 Então, disse eu: Senhor, que farei? E o Senhor disse-me: Levanta-te e vai a Damasco, e ali se te dirá tudo o que te é ordenado fazer. 11 E, como eu não via por causa do esplendor daquela luz, fui levado pela mão dos que estavam comigo e cheguei a Damasco.

12 E um certo Ananias, varão piedoso conforme a lei, que tinha bom testemunho de todos os judeus que ali moravam, 13 vindo ter comigo e apresentando-se, disse-me: Saulo, irmão, recobra a vista. E naquela mesma hora o vi. 14 E ele disse: O Deus de nossos pais de antemão te designou para que conheças a sua vontade, e vejas aquele Justo, e ouças a voz da sua boca. 15 Porque hás de ser sua testemunha para com todos os homens do que tens visto e ouvido. 16 E, agora, por que te deténs? Levanta-te, e batiza-te, e lava os teus pecados, invocando o nome do Senhor.

17 E aconteceu que, tornando eu para Jerusalém, quando orava no templo, fui arrebatado para fora de mim. 18 E vi aquele que me dizia: Dá-te pressa e sai apressadamente de Jerusalém, porque não receberão o teu testemunho acerca de mim. 19 E eu disse: Senhor, eles bem sabem que eu lançava na prisão e açoitava nas sinagogas os que criam em ti. 20 E, quando o sangue de Estêvão, tua testemunha, se derramava, também eu estava presente, e consentia na sua morte, e guardava as vestes dos que o matavam. 21 E disse-me: Vai, porque hei de enviar-te aos gentios de longe.

22 E ouviram-no até esta palavra e levantaram a voz, dizendo: Tira da terra um tal homem, porque não convém que viva! 23 E, clamando eles, e arrojando de si as vestes, e lançando pó para o ar, 24 o tribuno mandou que o levassem para a fortaleza, dizendo que o examinassem com açoites, para saber por que causa assim clamavam contra ele. 25 E, quando o estavam atando com correias, disse Paulo ao centurião que ali estava: É-vos lícito açoitar um romano, sem ser condenado? 26 E, ouvindo isto, o centurião foi e anunciou ao tribuno, dizendo: Vê o que vais fazer, porque este homem é romano. 27 E, vindo o tribuno, disse-lhe: Dize-me, és tu romano? E ele disse: Sim. 28 E respondeu o tribuno: Eu com grande soma de dinheiro alcancei este direito de cidadão. Paulo disse: Mas eu sou-o de nascimento. 29 E logo dele se apartaram os que o haviam de examinar; e até o tribuno teve temor, quando soube que era romano, visto que o tinha ligado.

30 No dia seguinte, querendo saber ao certo a causa por que era acusado pelos judeus, soltou-o das prisões e mandou vir os principais dos sacerdotes e todo o seu conselho; e, trazendo Paulo, o apresentou diante deles.