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“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
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I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison,
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as the high priest and the whole Council can testify about me. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way to apprehend these people and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.
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About noon as I was approaching Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
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I fell to the ground and heard a voice say 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 are persecuting,’ He replied.
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My companions saw the light, but they could not understand the voice of the One speaking to me.
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Then I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ ‘Get up and go into Damascus,’ He told me. ‘There you will be told all that you have been appointed to do.’
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Because the brilliance of the light had blinded me, my companions led me by the hand into Damascus.
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There a man named Ananias, a devout observer of the law who was highly regarded by all the Jews living there,
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came and stood beside me. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘receive your sight.’ And at that moment I could see him.
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Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear His voice.
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You will be His witness to everyone of what you have seen and heard.
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And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
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Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance
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and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’
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‘Lord,’ I answered, ‘they know very well that in one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.
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And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him.’
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Then He said to me, ‘Go! I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”