9
"I myself, however, thought it a duty to do many things in hostility to the name of Jesus, the Nazarene.
10
And that was how I acted in Jerusalem. Armed with authority received from the High Priests I shut up many of God's people in various prisons, and when they were about to be put to death I gave my vote against them.
11
In all the synagogues also I punished them many a time, and tried to make them blaspheme; and in my wild fury I chased them even to foreign towns.
12
"While thus engaged, I was travelling one day to Damascus armed with authority and a commission from the High Priests,
13
and on the journey, at noon, Sir, I saw a light from Heaven--brighter than the brightness of the sun--shining around me and around those who were travelling with me.
14
We all fell to the ground; and I heard a voice which said to me in Hebrew, "`Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? You are finding it painful to kick against the ox-goad.'
15
"`Who art Thou, Lord?' I asked. "`I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied.
16
`But rise, and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for the very purpose of appointing you My servant and My witness both as to the things you have already seen and as to those in which I will appear to you.
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I will save you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you to open their eyes,
18
that they may turn from darkness to light and from the obedience to Satan to God, in order to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified through faith in Me.'
19
"Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision;