³ “^(A)I am ^(B)a Jew, born in ^(C)Tarsus of ^(D)Cilicia, but having been brought up in this city, having been instructed at the feet of ^(E)Gamaliel according to the ^(F)strictness of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as ^(G)you all are today, ^4 (H)I persecuted this ^(I)Way to the death, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons, ⁵ as also ^(J)the high priest and all ^(K)the Council of the elders ^[a]can testify. From them I also ^(L)received letters to ^(M)the brothers, and started off for ^(N)Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem ^[b]as prisoners to be punished.

⁶ “^(O)But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, ⁷ and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ ⁸ And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am ^(P)Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ ⁹ And those who were with me ^(Q)beheld the light, to be sure, but ^(R)did not ^[c]understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. ¹⁰ And I said, ‘^(S)What should I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been determined for you to do.’ ¹¹ But since I ^(T)could not see because of the glory of that light, being led by the hand by those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

¹² “Now a certain ^(U)Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law, and ^(V)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, ¹³ came to me, and standing near, said to me, ‘^(W)Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ And ^[d](X)at that very hour I regained my sight and saw him. ¹⁴ And he said, ‘^(Y)The God of our fathers has ^(Z)appointed you to know His will and to ^(AA)see the ^(AB)Righteous One and to hear a ^[e]voice from His mouth. ¹⁵ For you will be ^(AC)a witness for Him to all men of ^(AD)what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ Now why do you delay? ^(AE)Rise up and be baptized, and ^(AF)wash away your sins, ^(AG)calling on His name.’

¹⁷ “Now it happened when I ^(AH)returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I ^(AI)fell into a trance, ¹⁸ and I saw Him saying to me, ‘^(AJ)Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your witness about Me.’ ¹⁹ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another ^(AK)I used to imprison and ^(AL)beat those who believed in You. ²⁰ And ^(AM)when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and guarding the garments of those who were slaying him.’ ²¹ And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away ^(AN)to the Gentiles.’”