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?^(A) And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”^(B)

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people^(A) in Jerusalem.^{(B) 14} And he has come here with authority from the chief priests^(C) to arrest all who call on your name.”^(D)

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.

¹⁰ on the day^(A) he comes to be glorified^(B) in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.^(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) 14} I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous^(D) for the traditions of my fathers.^{(E) 15} But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb^(F) and called me^(G) by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,^(H) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.^{(I) 17} I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.^(J)

¹⁸ Then after three years,^(K) I went up to Jerusalem^(L) to get acquainted with Cephas^[a] and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James,^(M) the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I assure you before God^(N) that what I am writing you is no lie.^(O)

²¹ Then I went to Syria^(P) and Cilicia.^{(Q) 22} I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea^(R) that are in Christ.^{(S) 23} They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith^(T) he once tried to destroy.”^{(U) 24} And they praised God^(V) because of me.

⁵⁴ Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue,^(A) and they were amazed.^(B) “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. ⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?^(C) Isn’t his mother’s^(D) name Mary, and aren’t his brothers^(E) James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?

3 See what great love^(A) the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!^(B) And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.^(C)

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 ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,^(C) so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,^(D) whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

¹³ When they saw the courage of Peter and John^(A) and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,^(B) they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.^(C)