1
“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before
you now.”
2
And when they heard that he spoke to them in the
Hebrew language, they kept all the more
silent. Then he said:
3
“I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia,
but brought up in this city at the feet of
Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of
our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as
you all are today.
4
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and
delivering into prisons both men and women,
5
as also the high priest bears me witness, and
all the council of the elders, from whom I also
received letters to the brethren, and went to
Damascus to bring in chains even those who were
there to Jerusalem to be punished.
6
“Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near
Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light
from heaven shone around me.
7
And I fell to the ground and heard a voice
saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting Me?’
8
So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said
to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are
persecuting.’
9
“And those who were with me indeed saw the light
and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice
of Him who spoke to me.
10
So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord
said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and
there you will be told all things which are
appointed for you to do.’
11
And since 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.
12
“Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according
to the law, having a good testimony with all the
Jews who dwelt there,
13
came to me; and he stood and said to me,
‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that
same hour I looked up at him.
14
Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen
you that you should know His will, and see the
Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.
15
For you will be His witness to all men of what
you have seen and heard.
16
And now why are you waiting? Arise and be
baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on
the name of the Lord.’
17
“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem
and was praying in the temple, that I was in a
trance
18 and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste
and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will
not receive your testimony concerning Me.’
19
So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every
synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who
believe on You.
20
And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was
shed, I also was standing by consenting to his
death, and guarding the clothes of those who
were killing him.’
21
Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you
far from here to the Gentiles.’”