11
In every synagogue, I often punished them and tried to make them speak against Jesus. I was so angry against them I even went to other cities to find them and punish them.
12
"One time the leading priests gave me permission and the power to go to Damascus.
13
On the way there, at noon, I saw a light from heaven. It was brighter than the sun and flashed all around me and those who were traveling with me.
14
We all fell to the ground. Then I heard a voice speaking to me in the Jewish language, saying, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are only hurting yourself by fighting me.'
15
I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' The Lord said, 'I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.
16
Stand up! I have chosen you to be my servant and my witness -- you will tell people the things that you have seen and the things that I will show you. This is why I have come to you today.
17
I will keep you safe from your own people and also from those who are not Jewish. I am sending you to them
18
to open their eyes so that they may turn away from darkness to the light, away from the power of Satan and to God. Then their sins can be forgiven, and they can have a place with those people who have been made holy by believing in me.'
19
"King Agrippa, after I had this vision from heaven, I obeyed it.
20
I began telling people that they should change their hearts and lives and turn to God and do things to show they really had changed. I told this first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem, and in every part of Judea, and also to those who are not Jewish.
21
This is why the Jews took me and were trying to kill me in the Temple.