1
"Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you."
2
When they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even quieter.
3
He continued, "I am a Jewish man, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and educated according to the strict view of our patriarchal law. Being zealous for God, just as all of you are today,
4
I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women in jail,
5
as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. Having received letters from them to the brothers, I was traveling to Damascus to bring those who were prisoners there to be punished in Jerusalem.
Paul's Testimony
6 "As I was traveling and near Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.
7
I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'
8
"I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' "He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting!'