4
"My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews.
5
They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.
6
And now I stand here on trial for hope in the promise made by God to our fathers,
7
to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!
8
Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
9
"I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
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And I did so in Jerusalem; I not only shut up many of the saints in prison, by authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.
11
And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme; and in raging fury against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
12
"Thus I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
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At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round me and those who journeyed with me.
14
And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.'