Actus Apostolorum, 22

1. “Viri fratres et patres, audi te a me, quam ad vos nunc reddo, rationem”. 2 Cum audissent autem quia Hebraea lingua loquebatur ad illos, magis praestiterunt silentium. Et dixit:

1. "Brethren and fathers, hear the defense which I now make before you."

2.

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

3. “Ego sum vir Iudaeus, natus Tarso Ciliciae, enutritus autem in ista civitate, secus pedes Gamaliel eruditus iuxta veritatem paternae legis, aemulator Dei, sicut et vos omnes estis hodie.

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.

4. Qui hanc viam persecutus sum usque ad mortem, alligans et tradens in custodias viros ac mulieres,

4. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,

5. sicut et princeps sacerdotum testimonium mihi reddit et omne concilium; a quibus et epistulas accipiens ad fratres, Damascum pergebam, ut adducerem et eos, qui ibi essent, vinctos in Ierusalem, uti punirentur.

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.

6. Factum est autem, eunte me et appropinquante Damasco, circa mediam diem subito de caelo circumfulsit me lux copiosa;

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

7. et decidi in terram et audivi vocem dicentem mihi: “Saul, Saul, quid me persequeris?”.

7. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'

8. Ego autem respondi: “Quis es, Domine?”. Dixitque ad me: “Ego sum Iesus Nazarenus, quem tu persequeris”.

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

9. Et, qui mecum erant, lumen quidem viderunt, vocem autem non audierunt eius, qui loquebatur mecum.

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

10. Et dixi: “Quid faciam, Domine?”. Dominus autem dixit ad me: “Surgens vade Damascum, et ibi tibi dicetur de omnibus, quae statutum est tibi, ut faceres”.

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.'

11. Et cum non viderem prae claritate luminis illius, ad manum deductus a comitibus veni Damascum.

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.

12. Ananias autem quidam vir religiosus secundum legem, testimonium habens ab omnibus habitantibus Iudaeis,

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

13. veniens ad me et astans dixit mihi: “Saul frater, respice!”. Et ego eadem hora respexi in eum.

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.

14. At ille dixit: “Deus patrum nostrorum praeordinavit te, ut cognosceres voluntatem eius et videres Iustum et audires vocem ex ore eius,

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;

15. quia eris testis illi ad omnes homines eorum, quae vidisti et audisti.

15. for you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.

16. Et nunc quid moraris? Exsurgens baptizare et ablue peccata tua, invocato nomine ipsius”.

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

17. Factum est autem, revertenti mihi in Ierusalem et oranti in templo fieri me in stupore mentis

17. "When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance

18. et videre illum dicentem mihi: “Festina et exi velociter ex Ierusalem, quoniam non recipient testimonium tuum de me”.

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

19. Et ego dixi: “Domine, ipsi sciunt quia ego eram concludens in carcerem et caedens per synagogas eos, qui credebant in te;

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

20. et cum funderetur sanguis Stephani testis tui, et ipse astabam et consentiebam et custodiebam vestimenta interficientium illum”.

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.'

21. Et dixit ad me: “Vade, quoniam ego in nationes longe mittam te””.

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

22. Audiebant autem eum usque ad hoc verbum et levaverunt vocem suam dicentes: “Tolle de terra eiusmodi, non enim fas est eum vivere!”.

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."

23. Vociferantibus autem eis et proicientibus vestimenta sua et pulverem iactantibus in aerem,

23. And as they cried out and waved their garments and threw dust into the air,

24. iussit tribunus induci eum in castra dicens flagellis eum interrogari, ut sciret propter quam causam sic acclamarent ei.

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.

25. Et cum astrinxissent eum loris, dixit astanti centurioni Paulus: “Si hominem Romanum et indemnatum licet vobis flagellare?”.

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?"

26. Quo audito, centurio accedens ad tribunum nuntiavit dicens: “Quid acturus es? Hic enim homo Romanus est”.

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."

27. Accedens autem tribunus dixit illi: “Dic mihi, tu Romanus es?”. At ille dixit: “Etiam”.

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

28. Et respondit tribunus: “Ego multa summa civitatem hanc consecutus sum”. Et Paulus ait: “Ego autem et natus sum”.

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

29. Protinus ergo discesserunt ab illo, qui eum interrogaturi erant; tribunus quoque timuit, postquam rescivit quia Romanus esset, et quia alligasset eum.

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.

30. Postera autem die, volens scire diligenter qua ex causa accusaretur a Iudaeis, solvit eum et iussit principes sacerdotum convenire et omne concilium et producens Paulum statuit coram illis.

30. But on the morrow, desiring to know the real reason why the Jews accused him, he unbound him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.