³ As he went he drew near Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

⁵ He said, “Who are You, Lord?”

The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” ⁶ Trembling and astonished, he said, “Lord, what will You have me do?” The Lord said to him, “Rise up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one. ⁸ Saul rose up from the ground. And when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰ A disciple named Ananias was in Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”

He said, “Here I am, Lord.”

¹¹ The Lord said to him, “Rise and go to Straight Street, and inquire at Judas’ house for someone named Saul of Tarsus, for he is praying, ¹² and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he may see again.”

¹³ Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many evil things he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go your way. For this man is a chosen vessel of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the sons of Israel. ¹⁶ For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

¹⁷ Then Ananias went his way and entered the house. Putting his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you came, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. And he rose up and was baptized. ¹⁹ When he had eaten, he was strengthened.

Saul Preaches in Damascus

For several days Saul was with the disciples in Damascus. ²⁰ Immediately he preached in the synagogues that the Christ is the Son of God.

⁵ as even the high priest and the council of elders bear witness of me. From them I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, where I went to take even those who were there and lead them in chains to Jerusalem to be punished.

Paul Tells of His Conversion^(A)

⁶ “As I journeyed and came near Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. ⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’

⁸ “I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’

“He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ ⁹ Those who were with me saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who was speaking to me.

¹⁰ “I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’

“The Lord said to me, ‘Rise and go into Damascus. There you will be told what you have been appointed to do.’ ¹¹ Since I was blinded by the glory of that light, those who were with me led me by the hand into Damascus.

¹² “Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who was well spoken of by all the Jews living there, ¹³ came and stood by me, and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that moment I looked up at him.

¹⁴ “Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Just One and to hear His voice, ¹⁵ for you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why do you wait? Rise, be baptized and wash away your sins, and call on the name of the Lord.’

Paul Tells of His Conversion^(A)

¹² “So I went to Damascus with authority and a commission from the chief priests. ¹³ At midday, O King, I saw along the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. ¹⁴ When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

¹⁵ “I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’

“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, to appoint you as a servant and a witness both of what you have seen and of what I will yet reveal to you. ¹⁷ I will deliver you from your people and from the Gentiles to whom I now send you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

Paul’s Testimony to Jews and Gentiles

¹⁹ “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,