Acts 22:1-10 ▼

1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”

2 When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then Paul declared,

3 “I am indeed 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 was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.

4 I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison,

5 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.

6 About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.

7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’

8 ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.

9 My companions saw the light and were terrified, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.

10 Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’