Paul’s Defense to the Crowd
(Acts 9:1–19; Acts 26:1–23)
“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” Act 7:22Ti 4:16Act 13:26Act 23:1Act 23:6Act 28:171Co 9:31Pe 3:15 When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, 1 they became even more silent. Act 21:40
Then Paul declared, “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 am just as zealous for God as any of you here today. Php 3:5-6Act 26:5Act 5:34Act 9:11Act 21:20Act 21:392Co 11:22Luk 10:39
I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison, Act 22:19-201Ti 1:13-15Act 26:9-111Co 15:9Act 16:17Act 8:1-4Act 18:26Act 19:23 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. Act 9:1-2Luk 22:66Act 5:211Ti 4:14Act 13:26Act 22:1Act 26:10Act 26:12
About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. Act 26:12-18Act 9:3-8Rev 1:162Sa 8:6Gen 15:2Isa 24:23Mat 17:2Gen 14:15 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ Jer 2:91Ti 1:13Mat 25:451Sa 3:10Exo 3:4Gen 16:8Gen 22:1Gen 22:11
‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. Act 26:91Sa 8:7Act 26:14-15Act 3:6Act 4:10Act 6:14Exo 16:7-8Mat 10:40-42
‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me. Act 9:7Dan 10:7Act 26:13Jhn 12:29-30
Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ Act 16:30Act 2:37Act 22:12-16Act 26:16-18Psa 143:8-10Psa 25:8-9Act 10:33Act 9:6
‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’
Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me, my companions led me by the hand into Damascus. Act 9:8-9Act 13:11Isa 42:16 There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there, Act 10:22Act 6:33Jn 1:121Ti 3:72Co 6:8Act 17:4Act 8:2Act 9:10-18 came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him. Act 9:17-18Phm 1:16
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. Gal 1:121Co 15:81Co 9:1Act 26:16Act 9:151Jn 2:1Act 3:13-14Act 7:52 You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard. Act 23:11Act 4:20Jhn 15:27Act 1:8Act 10:39-41Act 27:24Luk 24:47-48Act 1:22 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’ Act 2:38Act 2:211Co 6:11Heb 10:22Tit 3:51Pe 3:211Co 12:13Gal 3:27
Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 2Co 12:1-4Act 10:9-10Act 26:20Act 9:26-28Gal 1:18Rev 1:10 and saw the Lord 2saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’ Act 9:29Ezk 3:6-7Luk 21:21Mat 10:14Act 3:19Mat 10:23
‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You. Act 22:4Mat 10:17Act 8:3Act 9:1Act 26:9-12 And when the blood of Your witness 3Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’ Act 7:58Act 8:1Rev 2:13Rom 1:32Act 26:10Luk 11:48Rev 17:6
Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” Act 9:151Ti 2:7Eph 3:6-8Gal 2:7-8Rom 15:16Act 13:46-47Rom 11:132Ti 1:11
Paul the Roman Citizen
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!” Act 25:24Act 21:36Act 7:54-57Jhn 19:15Luk 23:18
As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air, 2Sa 16:13Act 26:11Act 7:53Act 7:58Ecc 10:3 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. Act 21:31-32Act 21:34Act 23:10Jhn 19:1Act 16:22-23Act 16:37Act 22:25-29Act 23:27
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?” Act 16:37Act 25:16Act 27:43Act 22:27-28Act 23:17Act 10:1Act 27:1Act 27:3
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.” Act 23:27Act 22:29
The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“I paid a high price for my citizenship,” said the commander.
“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.
Then 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. Act 21:33Act 22:24-26Act 16:38-39Heb 11:35
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 4to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them. Act 23:28Act 21:33Act 21:11Act 22:5Act 23:15Act 26:29Act 5:21Mat 10:17