“When men bring you into the synagogues {\cf2\super [227]} before the leaders and other important men, don’t worry about what you will say.
Acts 22:1 - Easy To Read Version Paul said, “My brothers and my fathers, listen to me! I will make my defense to you.” Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition BRETHREN AND fathers, listen to the defense which I now make in your presence. American Standard Version (1901) Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you. Common English Bible “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” Catholic Public Domain Version "Noble brothers and fathers, listen to the explanation that I now give to you." Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version MEN, brethren, and fathers, hear ye the account which I now give unto you. |
“When men bring you into the synagogues {\cf2\super [227]} before the leaders and other important men, don’t worry about what you will say.
“My brothers, sons in the family of Abraham, {\cf2\super [267]} and you non-Jews who also worship the true God, listen! The news about this salvation has been sent to us.
The Jews made a man named Alexander stand before the people. The people told him what to do. Alexander waved his hand because he wanted to explain things to the people.
Paul looked at the Jewish council meeting and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life in a good way before God. I have always done what I thought was right.”
Some of the men in the meeting were Sadducees {\cf2\super [454]} and some others were Pharisees. {\cf2\super [455]} So Paul had an idea: He shouted to them, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee and my father was a Pharisee! I am on trial here because I hope (believe) that people will rise from death!”
The governor made a sign for Paul to speak. So Paul answered, “Governor Felix, I know that you have been a judge over this nation (Israel) for a long time. So I am happy to defend myself before you.
But I answered, ‘When a man is accused of doing something wrong, Romans don’t give the man to other people to judge. First, the man must face the people that are accusing him. And he must be allowed to defend himself against their charges.’
This is what Paul said to defend himself: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law, against the temple, {\cf2\super [474]} or against Caesar. {\cf2\super [475]} ”
While Paul was saying these things to defend himself, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are crazy! Too much study has made you crazy!”
Three days later Paul sent for some of the most important Jews. When they came together, Paul said, “My Jewish brothers, I have done nothing against our people (the Jews). I have done nothing against the customs of our fathers. {\cf2\super [524]} But I was arrested in Jerusalem and given to the Romans.
Stephen answered, “My Jewish fathers and brothers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to Abraham, our ancestor. Abraham was in Mesopotamia. This was before he lived in Haran.
They show that in their hearts they know what is right and wrong, the same as the law commands. And those people also show this by the way they feel about right and wrong. Sometimes their thoughts tell them that they did wrong, and this makes them guilty. And sometimes their thoughts tell them that they did right, and this makes them not guilty.)
Do you think that we have been defending ourselves to you all this time? No. We say these things in Christ. And we say these things before God. You are our dear friends. And everything that we do is to make you stronger.
You had the kind of sorrow God wanted you to have. Now see what that sorrow has brought you: That sorrow has made you very serious. It made you want to prove that you were not wrong. It made you angry and afraid. It made you want \{to see me\}. It made you care. It made you want the right thing to be done. You proved that you were not guilty in any part of that problem.
But those other people preach about Christ because they are selfish. Their reason for preaching is wrong. They want to make trouble for me in prison.
And I know that I am right to think like this about all of you. I am sure because I have you in my heart—I feel very close to you. I feel close to you because all of you share in God’s grace (kindness) with me. You share in God’s grace with me while I am in prison, while I am defending the Good News, {\cf2\super [5]} and while I am proving the truth of the Good News.
All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people the things that are wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching how to live right.
But you should keep the Lord Christ holy in your hearts. Always be ready to answer every person who asks you to explain about the hope you have.