English Bible Presentation Sharing - Acts Book, chapter 22, verse 48 in Nlv Version

Acts 22 : 1 (NLV)

Paul said, "Brothers and fathers, listen to what I have to say to you."

Acts 22 : 2 (NLV)

When they heard him speak to them in their own language, they stopped making noise. Then he said,

Acts 22 : 3 (NLV)

"I am a Jew. I was born in the city of Tarsus in the country of Cilicia. When I was a young man, I lived here in Jerusalem. I went to Gamaliel's school and learned all about the Law of our early fathers. I worked hard for God as you all do today.

Acts 22 : 4 (NLV)

"I worked hard and killed men and women who believed as I believe today. I put them in chains and sent them to prison.

Acts 22 : 5 (NLV)

The head religious leader and the leaders of the people can tell you this is true. I got letters from them to take to our Jewish brothers in the city of Damascus. I was going there to put the Christians in chains and bring them to Jerusalem where they would be beaten.

Acts 22 : 6 (NLV)

"I was near Damascus. All at once, about noon, I saw a bright light from heaven shining around me.

Acts 22 : 7 (NLV)

I fell to the ground. A voice said to me, 'Saul, Saul, why do you work so hard against Me?'

Acts 22 : 8 (NLV)

I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, the One you are working against.'

Acts 22 : 9 (NLV)

Those who were with me saw the light. But they did not hear Him speaking to me.

Acts 22 : 10 (NLV)

I asked, 'Lord, what should I do?' The Lord said to me, 'Get up! Go to Damascus. You will be told what to do there.'

Acts 22 : 11 (NLV)

"I could not see because of the bright light. Those who were with me had to lead me by the hand until we came to Damascus.

Acts 22 : 12 (NLV)

Ananias lived there. He obeyed the Law and was respected by all the Jews.

Acts 22 : 13 (NLV)

He came and stood near me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' At once I was able to see him.

Acts 22 : 14 (NLV)

Then Ananias said, 'The God of our fathers chose you to know what He wants done. He chose you to see Jesus Christ, the One Right with God, and to hear His voice.

Acts 22 : 15 (NLV)

You are to tell all men what you have seen and heard.

Acts 22 : 16 (NLV)

What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on His name.'

Acts 22 : 17 (NLV)

"I came back to Jerusalem. When I was praying in the house of God, I had a dream.

Acts 22 : 18 (NLV)

I saw Him as He said to me, 'Get out of Jerusalem! They will not listen to you when you tell them about Me!'

Acts 22 : 19 (NLV)

I said, 'Lord, they know I took Christians out of every Jewish place of worship. I had them beaten and put in prison.

Acts 22 : 20 (NLV)

Also when Stephen was killed, I stood there and watched them throw stones at him. Those who threw the stones had me watch their coats.'

Acts 22 : 21 (NLV)

The Lord said to me, 'Go! I will send you far away to the people who are not Jews.' "

Acts 22 : 22 (NLV)

They listened to him until he said that. Then they all cried out with loud voices, "Kill him! Take such a man from the earth! He should not live!"

Acts 22 : 23 (NLV)

They kept on calling out. Then they pulled off their coats and threw dust in the air.

Acts 22 : 24 (NLV)

The captain told them to bring Paul into the soldiers' building. He told his soldiers to find out from Paul, by beating him, why the people were crying out against him.

Acts 22 : 25 (NLV)

As they tied him up, Paul said to the soldier, "Does the law say that you can beat a Roman citizen when no one has said he is guilty?"

Acts 22 : 26 (NLV)

When the soldier heard this, he told it to the captain. He said, "Listen! What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen."

Acts 22 : 27 (NLV)

The captain came and asked Paul, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" Paul said, "Yes!"

Acts 22 : 28 (NLV)

The captain said, "I had to pay a lot of money to be a citizen." Paul said, "But I was born a Roman."

Acts 22 : 29 (NLV)

Those who were going to beat him left him at once. The captain was also afraid when he heard that Paul was a Roman citizen because he had him tied.

Acts 22 : 30 (NLV)

The next day they took off the chains that were holding Paul. The captain wanted to know why the Jews wanted to kill him. So the captain told the head religious leaders to gather for their court. They brought Paul and put him in front of them.