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"My fellow Jews, listen to me as I make my defense before you!"
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When they heard him speaking to them in Hebrew, they became even quieter; and Paul went on:
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"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up here in Jerusalem as a student of Gamaliel. I received strict instruction in the Law of our ancestors and was just as dedicated to God as are all of you who are here today.
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I persecuted to the death the people who followed this Way. I arrested men and women and threw them into prison.
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The High Priest and the whole Council can prove that I am telling the truth. I received from them letters written to fellow Jews in Damascus, so I went there to arrest these people and bring them back in chains to Jerusalem to be punished.
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"As I was traveling and coming near Damascus, about midday a bright light from the sky flashed suddenly around me.
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I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, "Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?'
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"Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute,' he said to me.
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The men with me saw the light, but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
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I asked, "What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, "Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything that God has determined for you to do.'
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I was blind because of the bright light, and so my companions took me by the hand and led me into Damascus.
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"In that city was a man named Ananias, a religious man who obeyed our Law and was highly respected by all the Jews living there.
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He came to me, stood by me, and said, "Brother Saul, see again!' At that very moment I saw again and looked at him.
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He said, "The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see his righteous Servant, and to hear him speaking with his own voice.
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For you will be a witness for him to tell everyone what you have seen and heard.
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And now, why wait any longer? Get up and be baptized and have your sins washed away by praying to him.'
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"I went back to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the Temple, I had a vision,
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in which I saw the Lord, as he said to me, "Hurry and leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your witness about me.'
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"Lord,' I answered, "they know very well that I went to the synagogues and arrested and beat those who believe in you.
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And when your witness Stephen was put to death, I myself was there, approving of his murder and taking care of the cloaks of his murderers.'
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"Go,' the Lord said to me, "for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' "