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"Whileso engaged 1as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chiefpriests,
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at midday*, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighterthan the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me.
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"And when we had 2allfallen to the ground, I heard a voicesaying to me in the 3Hebrewdialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kickagainst the goads.'
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"And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lordsaid, 'I amJesuswhom you are persecuting.
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'But get up and 4stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to 5appoint you a 6minister and 7a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you;
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8rescuing you 9from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,
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to 10open their eyes so that they may turn from 11darkness to light and from the dominion of 12Satan to God, that they may receive13forgiveness of sins and an 14inheritanceamongthose who have been sanctified by 15faith in Me.'
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"So, KingAgrippa, I did not provedisobedient to the heavenlyvision,
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but kept declaringboth16to those of Damascusfirst, and also 17at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even 18to the Gentiles, that they should 19repent and turn to God, performingdeeds20appropriate to repentance.
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"For thisreason some Jews21seized me in the temple and tried22to put me to death.
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"So, having obtainedhelp from God, I stand to thisday23testifyingboth to small and great, statingnothing but what24the Prophets and Mosessaid was going to takeplace;