Acts 26:12-18
King James Version
12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
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Acts 26:12-18
English Standard Version
Paul Tells of His Conversion
12 “In this connection (A)I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me (B)in the Hebrew language,[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and (C)stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, (D)to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 (E)delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—(F)to whom I (G)am sending you 18 (H)to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from (I)the power of Satan to God, that they may receive (J)forgiveness of sins and (K)a place among those who are sanctified (L)by faith in me.’
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- Acts 26:14 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)
Acts 26:12-18
New King James Version
Paul Recounts His Conversion(A)
12 (B)“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And 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, (C)to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will [a]deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, (D)to whom I [b]now send you, 18 (E)to open their eyes, in order (F)to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, (G)that they may receive forgiveness of sins and (H)an inheritance among those who are (I)sanctified[c] by faith in Me.’
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- Acts 26:17 rescue
- Acts 26:17 NU, M omit now
- Acts 26:18 set apart
Acts 26:12-18
New American Standard Bible
12 “[a]While so engaged, (A)as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, [b]brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who were journeying with me. 14 And when we had (B)all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the [c](C)Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? [d]It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and (D)stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to (E)appoint you as a (F)servant and (G)a witness not only to the things in which you have seen Me, but also to the things in which I will appear to you, 17 (H)rescuing you (I)from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to (J)open their eyes so that they may turn from (K)darkness to light, and from the [e]power of (L)Satan to God, that they may receive (M)forgiveness of sins and an (N)inheritance among those who have been sanctified by (O)faith in Me.’
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- Acts 26:12 Lit In which things
- Acts 26:13 Lit above the brightness of
- Acts 26:14 I.e., Jewish Aramaic
- Acts 26:14 An idiom referring to an animal’s futile resistance to being prodded with a spiked stick
- Acts 26:18 Or dominion
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
