Acts 22:1-16

1“12Brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”

2And when they heard that he was addressing them in the 34Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he said,

3“5I am 6a Jew, born in 7Tarsus of 8Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated 9under 10Gamaliel, 1112strictly according to the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as 13you all are today. 414I persecuted this 15Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, 5as also 16the high priest and all 17the Council of the elders 18can testify. From them I also 19received letters to 20the brothers, and started off for 21Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem 22as prisoners to be punished.

6“23But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus at about noon, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, 7and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am 24Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 9And those who were with me 25saw the light, but 26did not 27understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. 10And I said, ‘28What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that has been appointed for you to do.’ 11But since I 29could not see because of the 30brightness of that light, I came into Damascus being led by the hand by those who were with me.

12“Now a certain 31Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law and 32well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13came to me, and standing nearby he said to me, ‘33Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And 3435at that very moment I looked up at him. 14And he said, ‘36The God of our fathers has 37appointed you to know His will and to 38see the 39Righteous One and to hear a 40message from His mouth. 15For you will be 41a witness for Him to all people of 42what you have seen and heard. 16Now why do you delay? 43Get up and be baptized, and 44wash away your sins by 45calling on His name.’