Atos 22 - Bíblia Online

Irmãos e pais, escutem-me no que vou dizer-vos em minha defesa. 
Quando o ouviram falar em aramaico, o silêncio tornou-se ainda maior. 
Sou judeu, nascido em Tarso, cidade da Cilícia, mas educado aqui em Jerusalém sob o ensino de Gamaliel, a cujos pés aprendi a seguir com muito cuidado as nossas leis e costumes. O meu anseio era honrar Deus em tudo o que fazia, tal como vocês procuram fazer hoje. 
Assim, persegui os seguidores do Caminho até à morte, prendendo e entregando à prisão tanto homens como mulheres. O supremo sacerdote pode confirmá-lo, ou até qualquer membro do conselho, pois pedi-lhes que passassem cartas para os dirigentes judaicos em Damasco com instruções para me deixarem trazer acorrentado para Jerusalém qualquer cristão que encontrasse, para ser castigado. 
Ia eu pela estrada fora, já perto de Damasco, quando, subitamente, cerca do meio-dia, brilhou em torno de mim uma luz muito forte vinda do céu. Caí por terra e ouvi uma voz que me dizia: 'Saulo, Saulo, porque me persegues?' 
'Quem és tu, Senhor? 
Os homens que estavam comigo viram a luz mas não compreenderam as palavras. 
E eu disse: 'Que devo eu fazer, Senhor?'E o Senhor disse-me: 'Levanta-te, entra em Damasco e aí será dito o que deves fazer.' 
A luz era tão forte que deixei de ver e tive de ser conduzido para Damasco pelos meus companheiros. Aí, Ananias, homem obediente a Deus, que observava escrupulosamente a lei e que gozava da consideração de todos os judeus de Damasco, veio ver-me e, chegando-se junto de mim, disse: 'Irmão Paulo, recupera a vista!' E naquele momento consegui vê-lo. 
Então disse-me: 'O Deus de nossos pais escolheu-te para conheceres a sua vontade, veres o Justo e ouvi-lo falar. 
Deverás levar a sua mensagem a toda a parte, contando o que viste e ouviste. 
Agora, não te demores. Levanta-te e vai baptizar-te, e lava os teus pecados, invocando o nome do Senhor.' 
Um dia depois do meu regresso a Jerusalém, quando orava no templo, tive uma visão em que Jesus me disse: 'Apressa-te, sai de Jerusalém, pois não te acreditarão quando tu lhes falares acerca de mim.' 
'Senhor 
E quando a tua testemunha, Estêvão, foi morta, lá estava eu manifestando a minha aprovação ao tomar conta da roupa dos que o apedrejavam.' 
Mas o Senhor disse-me: 'Sai de Jerusalém, pois vou mandar-te para longe, para os gentios!' 
A multidão escutou Paulo até ele dizer aquela palavra; mas, ao ouvi-la, todos gritaram a uma só voz: Fora com esse homem! Matem-no! Não é digno de viver!, clamando e lançando ao ar as túnicas, de mistura com terra . 
Então o comandante levou-o para dentro e ordenou que fosse açoitado para que confessasse o crime, pois pretendia descobrir por que motivo a multidão se enfurecera daquela maneira. Quando estavam a amarrar Paulo para o açoitar, este disse a um oficial que se encontrava perto: Será legal chicotear um cidadão romano que nem sequer foi julgado? 
O oficial falou com o comandante e avisou-o: Veja lá o que vai fazer! Trata-se de um cidadão romano! 
O comandante foi ter com Paulo e perguntou-lhe: Diz-me, és cidadão romano? Sou, sim, respondeu Paulo. 
Também eu, murmurou o comandante, e esse direito custou-me muito dinheiro!Mas eu sou cidadão romano por nascimento! 
Os soldados que se preparavam para interrogar Paulo foram-se logo embora quando souberam que era um cidadão romano, e o próprio comandante ficou assustado por ter mandado que o amarassem e açoitassem. 
No dia seguinte, tirou-lhe as cadeias, mandou convocar os principais dos sacerdotes para uma sessão com o conselho judaico, e trouxe Paulo para, na presença deles, descobrir a causa daqueles tumultos. 

Men: brothers and fathers, hear{+} the defense which I now make to you{+}. 
And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: and he says, 
I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, instructed at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God even as all of you{+} are this day: 
and I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 
As also the high priest bears me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and journeyed to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished. 
And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and drew near to Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light around me. 
And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 
And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute. 
And those who were with me indeed saw the light, but they didn't hear the voice of him who spoke to me. 
And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it will be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do. 
And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me I came into Damascus. 
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there, 
came to me, and standing by me said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And in that very hour I looked up on him. 
And he said, The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. 
For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 
And now why do you tarry? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name. 
And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance, 
and saw him saying to me, Hurry, and get quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not receive of you testimony concerning me. 
And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed on you: 
and when the blood of Stephen your witness was shed, I also was standing by, and giving approval, and keeping the garments of those who slew him. 
And he said to me, Depart: for I will send you forth far from here to the Gentiles. 
And they gave him audience to this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. 
And as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air, 
the colonel commanded him to be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him. 
And when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the captain that stood by, Is it lawful for you{+} to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned? 
And when the captain heard it, he went to the colonel and told him, saying, What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman. 
And the colonel came and said to him, Tell me, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes. 
And the colonel answered, With a great sum I obtained this citizenship. And Paul said, But I am [a Roman] born. 
They then who were about to examine him immediately departed from him: and the colonel also was afraid when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. 
But on the next day, desiring to know the certainty why he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them. 

Atos 23

Irmãos e pais, escutem-me no que vou dizer-vos em minha defesa. 
Quando o ouviram falar em aramaico, o silêncio tornou-se ainda maior. 
Sou judeu, nascido em Tarso, cidade da Cilícia, mas educado aqui em Jerusalém sob o ensino de Gamaliel, a cujos pés aprendi a seguir com muito cuidado as nossas leis e costumes. O meu anseio era honrar Deus em tudo o que fazia, tal como vocês procuram fazer hoje. 
Assim, persegui os seguidores do Caminho até à morte, prendendo e entregando à prisão tanto homens como mulheres. O supremo sacerdote pode confirmá-lo, ou até qualquer membro do conselho, pois pedi-lhes que passassem cartas para os dirigentes judaicos em Damasco com instruções para me deixarem trazer acorrentado para Jerusalém qualquer cristão que encontrasse, para ser castigado. 
Ia eu pela estrada fora, já perto de Damasco, quando, subitamente, cerca do meio-dia, brilhou em torno de mim uma luz muito forte vinda do céu. Caí por terra e ouvi uma voz que me dizia: 'Saulo, Saulo, porque me persegues?' 
'Quem és tu, Senhor? 
Os homens que estavam comigo viram a luz mas não compreenderam as palavras. 
E eu disse: 'Que devo eu fazer, Senhor?'E o Senhor disse-me: 'Levanta-te, entra em Damasco e aí será dito o que deves fazer.' 
A luz era tão forte que deixei de ver e tive de ser conduzido para Damasco pelos meus companheiros. Aí, Ananias, homem obediente a Deus, que observava escrupulosamente a lei e que gozava da consideração de todos os judeus de Damasco, veio ver-me e, chegando-se junto de mim, disse: 'Irmão Paulo, recupera a vista!' E naquele momento consegui vê-lo. 
Então disse-me: 'O Deus de nossos pais escolheu-te para conheceres a sua vontade, veres o Justo e ouvi-lo falar. 
Deverás levar a sua mensagem a toda a parte, contando o que viste e ouviste. 
Agora, não te demores. Levanta-te e vai baptizar-te, e lava os teus pecados, invocando o nome do Senhor.' 
Um dia depois do meu regresso a Jerusalém, quando orava no templo, tive uma visão em que Jesus me disse: 'Apressa-te, sai de Jerusalém, pois não te acreditarão quando tu lhes falares acerca de mim.' 
'Senhor 
E quando a tua testemunha, Estêvão, foi morta, lá estava eu manifestando a minha aprovação ao tomar conta da roupa dos que o apedrejavam.' 
Mas o Senhor disse-me: 'Sai de Jerusalém, pois vou mandar-te para longe, para os gentios!' 
A multidão escutou Paulo até ele dizer aquela palavra; mas, ao ouvi-la, todos gritaram a uma só voz: Fora com esse homem! Matem-no! Não é digno de viver!, clamando e lançando ao ar as túnicas, de mistura com terra . 
Então o comandante levou-o para dentro e ordenou que fosse açoitado para que confessasse o crime, pois pretendia descobrir por que motivo a multidão se enfurecera daquela maneira. Quando estavam a amarrar Paulo para o açoitar, este disse a um oficial que se encontrava perto: Será legal chicotear um cidadão romano que nem sequer foi julgado? 
O oficial falou com o comandante e avisou-o: Veja lá o que vai fazer! Trata-se de um cidadão romano! 
O comandante foi ter com Paulo e perguntou-lhe: Diz-me, és cidadão romano? Sou, sim, respondeu Paulo. 
Também eu, murmurou o comandante, e esse direito custou-me muito dinheiro!Mas eu sou cidadão romano por nascimento! 
Os soldados que se preparavam para interrogar Paulo foram-se logo embora quando souberam que era um cidadão romano, e o próprio comandante ficou assustado por ter mandado que o amarassem e açoitassem. 
No dia seguinte, tirou-lhe as cadeias, mandou convocar os principais dos sacerdotes para uma sessão com o conselho judaico, e trouxe Paulo para, na presença deles, descobrir a causa daqueles tumultos. 

Men: brothers and fathers, hear{+} the defense which I now make to you{+}. 
And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: and he says, 
I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, instructed at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God even as all of you{+} are this day: 
and I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. 
As also the high priest bears me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and journeyed to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished. 
And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and drew near to Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light around me. 
And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 
And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute. 
And those who were with me indeed saw the light, but they didn't hear the voice of him who spoke to me. 
And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it will be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do. 
And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me I came into Damascus. 
And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there, 
came to me, and standing by me said to me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And in that very hour I looked up on him. 
And he said, The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. 
For you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard. 
And now why do you tarry? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name. 
And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance, 
and saw him saying to me, Hurry, and get quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not receive of you testimony concerning me. 
And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed on you: 
and when the blood of Stephen your witness was shed, I also was standing by, and giving approval, and keeping the garments of those who slew him. 
And he said to me, Depart: for I will send you forth far from here to the Gentiles. 
And they gave him audience to this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. 
And as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air, 
the colonel commanded him to be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him. 
And when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the captain that stood by, Is it lawful for you{+} to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned? 
And when the captain heard it, he went to the colonel and told him, saying, What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman. 
And the colonel came and said to him, Tell me, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes. 
And the colonel answered, With a great sum I obtained this citizenship. And Paul said, But I am [a Roman] born. 
They then who were about to examine him immediately departed from him: and the colonel also was afraid when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. 
But on the next day, desiring to know the certainty why he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them. 

Atos 23