The Damascus Road

Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples(A) of the Lord. He went to the high priest(B) and requested letters(C) from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way,(D) he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As(E) he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul said.

“I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one.(F) Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

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Saul’s Conversion on the Damascus Road

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and[a] asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he could bring them[b] tied up[c] to Jerusalem. Now as he proceeded, it happened that when he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” So he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting! But get up and enter into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.”[d] (Now the men who were traveling together with him stood speechless, because they[e] heard the voice but saw no one.) So Saul got up from the ground, but although[f] his eyes were open he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. And he was unable to see[g] for three days, and he did not eat or drink.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 9:2 Here “and” is supplied because the participle in the previous verse (“went to”) has been translated as a finite verb
  2. Acts 9:2 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  3. Acts 9:2 Or figuratively “bring them under arrest”
  4. Acts 9:6 Literally “what thing it is necessary that you do”
  5. Acts 9:7 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as causal
  6. Acts 9:8 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the genitive absolute participle (“were open”) which is understood as concessive
  7. Acts 9:9 Literally “not seeing”