Acts 22:1-11 ▼

1 “My brothers and fathers, listen to what I am about to say to you in my defense.”

2 When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew they became all the more quiet. And he continued,

3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated strictly in our ancestral law and was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.

4 I persecuted this Way to death, binding both men and women and delivering them to prison.

5 Even the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify on my behalf. For from them I even received letters to the brothers and set out for Damascus to bring back to Jerusalem in chains for punishment those there as well.

6 “On that journey as I drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from the sky suddenly shone around me.

7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

8 I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’

9 My companions saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who spoke to me.

10 I asked, ‘What shall I do, sir?’ The Lord answered me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do.’

11 Since I could see nothing because of the brightness of that light, I was led by hand by my companions and entered Damascus.