The Damascus Road

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples(A) of the Lord. He went to the high priest(B) and requested letters(C) from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way,(D) he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As(E) he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

“Who are You, Lord?” he said.

“I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting,” He replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one.(F) Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

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The Conversion of Saul

(A)Now [a]Saul, still (B)breathing [b]threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for (C)letters from him to (D)the synagogues in (E)Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to [c](F)the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them in shackles to Jerusalem. Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and (G)suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and (H)he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and (I)it will be told to you what you must do.” The men who traveled with him (J)stood speechless, (K)hearing the [d]voice but seeing no one. Saul got up from the ground, and (L)though his eyes were open, he [e]could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into (M)Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 9:1 Later called Paul
  2. Acts 9:1 Lit threat
  3. Acts 9:2 See John 14:6
  4. Acts 9:7 Or sound
  5. Acts 9:8 Lit was seeing

The Blinding of Saul

1-2 All this time Saul was breathing down the necks of the Master’s disciples, out for the kill. He went to the Chief Priest and got arrest warrants to take to the meeting places in Damascus so that if he found anyone there belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he could arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem.

3-4 He set off. When he got to the outskirts of Damascus, he was suddenly dazed by a blinding flash of light. As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me?”

5-6 He said, “Who are you, Master?”

“I am Jesus, the One you’re hunting down. I want you to get up and enter the city. In the city you’ll be told what to do next.”

7-9 His companions stood there dumbstruck—they could hear the sound, but couldn’t see anyone—while Saul, picking himself up off the ground, found himself stone-blind. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. He continued blind for three days. He ate nothing, drank nothing.

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