1
1"Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you."
2
And when they heard that he was addressing them in
2the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:
3
3"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated
4at the feet of
5Gamaliel
6 according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers,
7being zealous for God
8as all of you are this day.
4
9I persecuted
10this Way
11to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,
5
as
12the high priest and
13the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to
14the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
6
15"As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me.