⁶ “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.^(A)

¹² “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. ¹³ About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice^(A) saying to me in Aramaic,^[a](B) ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

¹⁵ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶ ‘Now get up and stand on your feet.^(C) I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.^{(D) 17} I will rescue you^(E) from your own people and from the Gentiles.^(F) I am sending you to them ¹⁸ to open their eyes^(G) and turn them from darkness to light,^(H) and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins^(I) and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’^(J)

¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars,^(A) and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.^(B) His face was like the sun^(C) shining in all its brilliance.

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.

² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

⁶ He put garrisons^(A) in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject^(B) to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.^(C)

² But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord,^(A) what can you give me since I remain childless^(B) and the one who will inherit^[a] my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?^(C)”

¹⁵ During the night Abram divided his men^(A) to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.^(B)