Ma'ashym (Acts) — 22
1 “Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Shaul said, “listen to me as I offer my defense.”
2 When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater.
3 Then Shaul said, “I am a Yahudym, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Yahushalam under Gamalial. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Yahudym laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH in everything I did, just like all of you today.
4 And I persecuted the followers of the Way of Truth, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.
5 The high Kuhan and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Yahudym brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers of the Way of Truth from there to Yahushalam, in chains to be punished.
6 “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from Shamaym suddenly shone down around me.
7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Shaul, Shaul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 “‘Who are you?’ I asked.
“And the voice replied, ‘I Am 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA the Nazarym, the One you are persecuting.’
9 The people with me saw the light but they did not understand the voice speaking to me.
10 “I asked, ‘What should I do, MASTER?’
“And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’
11 “I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions.
12 A man named Ananyas lived there, he was a righteous man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Yahudym of Damascus.
13 Ananyas came and stood beside me and said, ‘brother Shaul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him!
14 “Then he told me, ‘The 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH of our ancestors has chosen you, that you should know HIS Will and that you should see the Righteous One and hear 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA speak.
15 For you are to be 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA‘s witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.
16 And Ananyas said, What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. And have your sins washed away by calling on the Name of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA.’
17 “After I returned to Yahushalam, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance.
18 I saw a vision of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Yahushalam, for the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’
19 “‘But Master,’ I argued, ‘they certainly know that in every Yahudym congregation I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.
20 And I was in complete agreement when your witness Staphan was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned Staphan.’
21 “But 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the other nations!’
22 The crowd listened until Shaul said that word. Then they all began to shout, “Away with such a fellow! He is not fit to live!”
23 They yelled, and threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.
Shaul Reveals His Roman Citizenship
24 The commander brought Shaul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime. The commander wanted to find out why the crowd had become so furious.
25 When they tied Shaul down to lash him, Shaul said to the officer standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who has not even been tried?”
26 When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!”
27 So the commander went over and asked Shaul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen? “Yes, I certainly am,” Shaul replied.
28 “I am, too,” the commander muttered, “and it cost me plenty!” Shaul answered, “But I am a citizen by birth!”
29 The soldiers who were about to interrogate Shaul quickly withdrew when they heard he was a Roman citizen, and the commander was frightened because he had ordered him bound and whipped.
Shaul before the High Council
30 The next day the commander ordered the leading Kuhanym into session with the Yahudym high council. He wanted to find out what the trouble was all about, so he released Shaul to have him stand before them.