Saul’s Conversion(A)

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.(B) He went to the high priest 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. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.(E) He fell to the ground and heard a voice(F) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”(G)

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound(H) but did not see anyone.(I) Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.(J) So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

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Saul Becomes a Believer

Meanwhile, still spewing death threats against the Lord’s disciples, Saul went to the high priest. He asked him for letters to take with him[a] to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem. As Saul[b] traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. He dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

He asked, “Who are you, Lord?”[c]

The voice[d] said, “I’m Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up, go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

Meanwhile, the men who were traveling with Saul[e] were standing speechless, for they heard the voice but didn’t see anyone. When Saul got up off the ground, he couldn’t see anything, even though his eyes were open. So his companions[f] took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. For three days he couldn’t see, and he didn’t eat or drink anything.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 9:2 The Gk. lacks to take with him
  2. Acts 9:3 Lit. he
  3. Acts 9:5 Or Sir
  4. Acts 9:5 Lit. He
  5. Acts 9:7 Lit. him
  6. Acts 9:8 Lit. So they