1 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.

1 Varones hermanos y padres, oíd ahora mi defensa ante vosotros.

2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

2 (Y al oír que les hablaba en lengua hebrea, guardaron más silencio). Y él les dijo:

3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

3 Yo de cierto soy judío, nacido en Tarso de Cilicia, pero criado en esta ciudad a los pies de Gamaliel, instruido estrictamente conforme a la ley de nuestros padres, celoso de Dios, como todos vosotros lo sois hoy.

4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

4 Perseguía yo este camino hasta la muerte, prendiendo y entregando en cárceles a hombres y a mujeres,

5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

5 como también el sumo sacerdote me es testigo y todos los ancianos, de quienes también recibí cartas para los hermanos, e iba a Damasco para traer presos a Jerusalén aun a los que estuviesen allí, para que fuesen castigados.

6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

6 Pero aconteció que yendo yo, al llegar cerca de Damasco, como a mediodía, de repente me rodeó mucha luz del cielo;

7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

7 y caí al suelo y oí una voz que me decía: Saulo, Saulo, ¿por qué me persigues?

8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.

8 Yo entonces respondí: ¿Quién eres, Señor? Y me dijo: Yo soy Jesús de Nazaret, a quién tú persigues.

9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.

9 Y los que estaban conmigo vieron en verdad la luz y se espantaron, pero no oyeron la voz del que hablaba conmigo.

10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

10 Y dije: ¿Qué haré, Señor? Y el Señor me dijo: Levántate y ve a Damasco, y allí se te dirá todo lo que te está señalado hacer.

11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

11 Y como yo no veía a causa de la gloria de la luz, llevado de la mano por los que estaban conmigo, llegué a Damasco.

12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,

12 Entonces uno llamado Ananías, varón piadoso conforme a la ley, que tenía buen testimonio de todos los judíos que allí moraban,

13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

13 vino a mí y, acercándose, me dijo: Hermano Saulo, recibe de nuevo la vista. Y yo en aquella misma hora recobré la vista y le miré.

14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

14 Y él dijo: El Dios de nuestros padres te ha escogido para que conocieses su voluntad, y vieses a aquel Justo y oyeses la voz de su boca.

15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

15 Porque serás testigo suyo a todos los hombres de lo que has visto y oído.

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

16 Ahora, pues, ¿por qué te detienes? Levántate, y bautízate y lava tus pecados, invocando su nombre.

17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

17 Y me aconteció, de regreso en Jerusalén, que orando en el templo, me sobrevino un éxtasis.

18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

18 Y le vi que me decía: Date prisa y sal prontamente de Jerusalén, porque no recibirán tu testimonio acerca de mí.

19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:

19 Y yo dije: Señor, ellos saben que yo encarcelaba y azotaba en todas las sinagogas a los que creían en ti;

20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.

20 y cuando se derramaba la sangre de Esteban, tu testigo, yo mismo también estaba presente, y consentía en su muerte y guardaba las ropas de los que le mataban.

21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

21 Pero me dijo: Ve, porque yo te enviaré lejos, a los gentiles.

22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

22 Y le oyeron hasta esta palabra; entonces alzaron la voz, diciendo: Quita de la tierra a este hombre, porque no conviene que viva.

23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,

23 Y dando ellos voces, y arrojando sus ropas y echando polvo al aire,

24 The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.

24 mandó el tribuno que le llevasen a la fortaleza y ordenó que fuese interrogado con azotes, para saber por qué causa clamaban así contra él.

25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

25 Pero cuando le ataron con correas, Pablo dijo al centurión que estaba presente: ¿Os es lícito azotar a un ciudadano romano sin haber sido condenado?

26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.

26 Y cuando el centurión oyó esto, fue y dio aviso al tribuno, diciendo: ¿Qué vas a hacer? Porque este hombre es ciudadano romano.

27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

27 Vino el tribuno y le dijo: Dime, ¿eres tú ciudadano romano? Y él dijo: Sí.

28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

28 Y respondió el tribuno: Yo con una gran suma adquirí esta ciudadanía. Entonces Pablo dijo: Pero yo lo soy de nacimiento.

29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

29 Así que, enseguida se apartaron de él los que le iban a dar tormento; y aun el tribuno también tuvo temor al saber que era ciudadano romano, por haberle atado.

30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

30 Y al día siguiente, queriendo saber con certeza la causa por la cual era acusado por los judíos, le soltó de las cadenas, y mandó venir a los principales sacerdotes y a todo el concilio; y sacando a Pablo, le presentó ante ellos.