³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.^{(A) 4} He fell to the ground and heard a voice^(B) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”^(C)

⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound^(D) but did not see anyone.^{(E) 8} Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.^(F) So they led him by the hand into Damascus.

⁶ “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.^{(A) 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,^(B) whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ⁹ My companions saw the light,^(C) but they did not understand the voice^(D) of him who was speaking to me.

¹⁰ “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.

“ ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’^{(E) 11} My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.^(F)