^11 (A)And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

¹⁹ So I said, ‘Lord, ^(A)they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and ^(B)beat those who believe on You.

⁴⁵ But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they ^(A)opposed the things spoken by Paul.

¹⁷ But beware of men, for ^(A)they will deliver you up to councils and ^(B)scourge you in their synagogues.

⁵ as also the high priest bears me witness, and ^(A)all the council of the elders, ^(B)from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus ^(C)to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

The Damascus Road: Saul Converted^(A)

9 Then ^(B)Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

¹⁶ but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

⁷ Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are ^(A)called?

²⁸ Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three ^(A)witnesses. ^29 (B)Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, ^(C)counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, ^(D)and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Agrippa Parries Paul’s Challenge

²⁴ Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, ^(A)you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

²⁵ But he said, “I am not ^[a]mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.