Saul’s Conversion^(A)

9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.^(B) He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,^(C) so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,^(D) whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.^{(E) 4} He fell to the ground and heard a voice^(F) 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.”^(G)

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,^(A) “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus^(B) named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on^(C) him to restore his sight.”

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people^(D) in Jerusalem.^{(E) 14} And he has come here with authority from the chief priests^(F) to arrest all who call on your name.”^(G)

¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument^(H) to proclaim my name to the Gentiles^(I) and their kings^(J) and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”^(K)