Atos dos Apóstolos, 22

1. “Irmãos e pais, ouvi o que vos tenho a dizer em minha defesa.”

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

2. Quando ouviram que lhes falava em língua hebraica, escutaram-no com a maior atenção.

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

3. Continuou ele: “Eu sou judeu, nasci em Tarso da Cilícia, mas criei-me nesta cidade, instruí-me aos pés de Gamaliel, em toda a observância da lei de nossos pais, partidário en­tusias­ta da causa de Deus como todos vós também o sois no dia de hoje.

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. Eu persegui de morte essa doutrina, prendendo e metendo em cárceres homens e mulheres.

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

5. O sumo sacerdote e todo o conselho dos anciãos me são testemunhas. E foi deles que também recebi cartas para os irmãos de Damasco, para onde me dirigi, com o fim de prender os que lá se achassem e trazê-los a Jerusalém, para que fossem castigados.

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. Ora, estando eu a caminho, e aproximando-me de Damasco, pelo meio-dia, de repente me cercou uma forte luz do céu.

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

7. Caí por terra e ouvi uma voz que me dizia: Saulo, Saulo, por que me persegues?

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

8. Eu repliquei: Quem és tu, Senhor? A voz me disse: Eu sou Jesus de Nazaré, a quem tu persegues.

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

9. Os meus companheiros viram a luz, mas não ouviram a voz de quem falava.

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. Então, eu disse: Senhor, que devo fazer? E o Senhor me respondeu: Levanta-te, vai a Damasco e lá te será dito tudo o que deves fazer.

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. Como eu não pudesse ver por causa da intensidade daquela luz, guiado pela mão dos meus companheiros, cheguei a Damasco.

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. Um certo Ananias, homem piedoso e observador da Lei, muito bem conceituado entre todos os judeus daquela cidade,

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

13. veio ter comigo e disse-me: Irmão Saulo, recobra a tua vista. Naquela mesma hora pude enxergá-lo.

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. Continuou ele: O Deus de nossos pais te predes­tinou para que conhecesses a sua vontade, visses o Justo e ouvisses a palavra da sua boca,*

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. pois lhe serás, diante de todos os homens, testemunha das coisas que tens visto e ouvido.

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

16. E agora, por que tardas? Levanta-te. Recebe o batismo e purifica-te dos teus pecados, invocando o seu nome.

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

17. Voltei para Jerusalém e, orando no templo, fui arrebatado em êxtase.

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

18. E vi Jesus que me dizia: Apressa-te e sai logo de Jerusalém, porque não receberão o teu testemunho a meu respeito.

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. Eu repliquei: Senhor, eles sabem que eu encarcerava e açoitava com varas nas sinagogas os que creem em ti.

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

20. E quando se derramou o sangue de Estêvão, tua testemunha, eu estava presente, consentia nisso e guardava os mantos dos que o matavam.

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. Mas ele me respondeu: Vai, porque eu te enviarei para longe, às nações...”.

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

22. Haviam-no escutado até essa palavra. Então, levantaram a voz: “Tira do mundo esse homem! Não é digno de viver!”.

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. Como vocife­rassem, arrojassem de si as vestes e lançassem pó ao ar,

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

24. o tribuno mandou recolhê-lo à cidadela, açoitá-lo e submetê-lo a torturas, para saber por que causa clamavam assim contra ele.

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. Quando o iam amarrando com a correia, Paulo perguntou a um centurião que estava presente: “É permitido açoitar um cidadão romano que nem sequer foi julgado?”.

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. Ao ouvir isso, o centurião foi ter com o tribuno e avisou-o: “Que vais fazer? Este homem é cidadão romano”.

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. Veio o tribuno e perguntou-lhe: “Dize-me, és romano?” – “Sim”, res­pondeu-lhe.

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

28. O tribuno replicou: “Eu adquiri este direito de cidadão por grande soma de dinheiro.” Paulo respondeu: “Pois eu o sou de nascimento.

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

29. Apartaram-se então dele os que iam torturá-lo. O tribuno alarmou-se porque o mandara acorrentar, sendo ele um cidadão romano.

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. No dia seguinte, querendo saber com mais exatidão de que os judeus o acusavam, soltou-o e ordenou que se reunissem os sumos sacerdotes e todo o Grande Conselho. Trouxe Paulo e o mandou comparecer diante deles.

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.