Acts 22

1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”

1 「諸位父兄請聽，我現在對你們分訴。」

2 When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then Paul declared,

2 眾人聽他說的是希伯來話，就更加安靜了。

3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.

3 保羅說：「我原是猶太人，生在基利家的大數，長在這城裏，在迦瑪列門下，按着我們祖宗嚴緊的律法受教，熱心事奉上帝，像你們眾人今日一樣。

4 I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison,

4 我也曾逼迫奉這道的人，直到死地，無論男女都鎖拿下監。

5 as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.

5 這是大祭司和眾長老都可以給我作見證的。我又領了他們達與弟兄的書信，往大馬士革去，要把在那裏奉這道的人鎖拿，帶到耶路撒冷受刑。」

6 About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.

6 「我將到大馬士革，正走的時候，約在晌午，忽然從天上發大光，四面照着我。

7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’

7 我就仆倒在地，聽見有聲音對我說：『掃羅！掃羅！你為甚麼逼迫我？』

8 ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.

8 我回答說：『主啊，你是誰？』他說：『我就是你所逼迫的拿撒勒人耶穌。』

9 My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.

9 與我同行的人看見了那光，卻沒有聽明那位對我說話的聲音。

10 Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’

10 我說：『主啊，我當做甚麼？』主說：『起來，進大馬士革去，在那裏，要將所派你做的一切事告訴你。』

11 Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me, my companions led me by the hand into Damascus.

11 我因那光的榮耀不能看見，同行的人就拉着我手進了大馬士革。

12 There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,

12 那裏有一個人，名叫亞拿尼亞，按着律法是虔誠人，為一切住在那裏的猶太人所稱讚。

13 came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him.

13 他來見我，站在旁邊，對我說：『兄弟掃羅，你可以看見。』我當時往上一看，就看見了他。

14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear His voice.

14 他又說：『我們祖宗的上帝揀選了你，叫你明白他的旨意，又得見那義者，聽他口中所出的聲音。

15 You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

15 因為你要將所看見的，所聽見的，對着萬人為他作見證。

16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’

16 現在你為甚麼耽延呢？起來，求告他的名受洗，洗去你的罪。』」

17 Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance

17 「後來，我回到耶路撒冷，在殿裏禱告的時候，魂遊象外，

18 and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’

18 看見主向我說：『你趕緊地離開耶路撒冷，不可遲延；因你為我作的見證，這裏的人必不領受。』

19 ‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.

19 我就說：『主啊，他們知道我從前把信你的人收在監裏，又在各會堂裏鞭打他們。

20 And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’

20 並且你的見證人司提反被害流血的時候，我也站在旁邊歡喜；又看守害死他之人的衣裳。』

21 Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

21 主向我說：『你去吧！我要差你遠遠地往外邦人那裏去。』」

22 The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”

22 眾人聽他說到這句話，就高聲說：「這樣的人，從世上除掉他吧！他是不當活着的。」

23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,

23 眾人喧嚷，摔掉衣裳，把塵土向空中揚起來。

24 the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him.

24 千夫長就吩咐將保羅帶進營樓去，叫人用鞭子拷問他，要知道他們向他這樣喧嚷是為甚麼緣故。

25 But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”

25 剛用皮條捆上，保羅對旁邊站着的百夫長說：「人是羅馬人，又沒有定罪，你們就鞭打他，有這個例嗎？」

26 On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

26 百夫長聽見這話，就去見千夫長，告訴他說：「你要做甚麼？這人是羅馬人。」

27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered.

27 千夫長就來問保羅說：「你告訴我，你是羅馬人嗎？」保羅說：「是。」

28 “I paid a high price for my citizenship,” said the commander. “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

28 千夫長說：「我用許多銀子才入了羅馬的民籍。」保羅說：「我生來就是。」

29 At once those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.

29 於是那些要拷問保羅的人就離開他去了。千夫長既知道他是羅馬人，又因為捆綁了他，也害怕了。

30 The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

30 第二天，千夫長為要知道猶太人控告保羅的實情，便解開他，吩咐祭司長和全公會的人都聚集，將保羅帶下來，叫他站在他們面前。