Paul’s Testimony

⁶ ‘As^(A) I was travelling and approaching Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. ⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? ”

⁸ ‘I answered, “Who are you, Lord? ”

‘He said to me, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.” ⁹ Now those who were with me saw the light,^[a] but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.^(B)

¹⁰ ‘I said, “What should I do, Lord? ”

‘The Lord told me, “Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do.”

¹¹ ‘Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of the light,^[b] I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went into Damascus.^(C)

Paul’s Account of His Conversion and Commission

¹² ‘I was travelling to Damascus under^(A) these circumstances with authority and a commission from the chief priests. ¹³ King Agrippa, while on the road at midday, I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun, shining around me and those travelling with me. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Aramaic,^[a] “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”^(B)

¹⁵ ‘I asked, “Who are you, Lord? ”

‘And the Lord replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.^{(C) 17} I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them^{(D) 18} to open their eyes^(E) so that they may turn^[b] from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”^(F)

⁸ Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time,^[a](A) he also appeared to me.^(B)