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.

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

9 Am I not free?^(A) Am I not an apostle?^(B) Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?^(C) Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?^(D)

¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,^(A) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.^(B)