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

³ But Saul^(A) began to destroy the church.^(B) Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor^(A) and a violent man, I was shown mercy^(B) because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.^(C)

¹³ For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,^(A) how intensely I persecuted the church of God^(B) and tried to destroy it.^(C)

¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus^(A) named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on^(B) 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^(C) in Jerusalem.^{(D) 14} And he has come here with authority from the chief priests^(E) to arrest all who call on your name.”^(F)

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

¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on^(K) Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”^{(L) 18} Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,^{(M) 19} and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

Saul spent several days with the disciples^(N) in Damascus.^{(O) 20} At once he began to preach in the synagogues^(P) that Jesus is the Son of God.^{(Q) 21} All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?^(R) And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”^(S)

⁹ “I too was convinced^(A) that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose^(B) the name of Jesus of Nazareth.^{(C) 10} And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people^(D) in prison,^(E) and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.^{(F) 11} Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished,^(G) and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

⁶ as for zeal,^(A) persecuting the church;^(B) as for righteousness based on the law,^(C) faultless.

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles^(A) and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted^(B) the church of God.^(C)