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)

¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on^(L) 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.”^{(M) 18} Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,^(N)

¹² “A man named Ananias came to see me.^(A) He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.^{(B) 13} He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.

¹⁴ “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors^(C) has chosen you to know his will and to see^(D) the Righteous One^(E) and to hear words from his mouth. ¹⁵ You will be his witness^(F) to all people of what you have seen^(G) and heard. ¹⁶ And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized^(H) and wash your sins away,^(I) calling on his name.’^(J)

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.^(A) Not many of you were wise^(B) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose^(C) the foolish^(D) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not^(E)—to nullify the things that are,