⁶ “Now ^(A)it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.

Paul Recounts His Conversion^(A)

^12 (B)“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, ¹³ at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. ¹⁴ And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ ¹⁵ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, ^(C)to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. ¹⁷ I will ^[a]deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, ^(D)to whom I ^[b]now send you, ^18 (E)to open their eyes, in order ^(F)to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, ^(G)that they may receive forgiveness of sins and ^(H)an inheritance among those who are ^(I)sanctified^[c] by faith in Me.’

^16 (A)He had in His right hand seven stars, ^(B)out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, ^(C)and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

^3 (A)As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. ⁴ Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, ^(B)why are you persecuting Me?”

⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ^[a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

⁶ So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ And ^(C)the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

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

⁶ Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So ^(A)the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

^2 (A)But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, ^(B)seeing I ^[a]go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

¹⁵ He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants ^(A)attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is ^[a]north of Damascus.