9:1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats 1 to murder 2 the Lord’s disciples, went to the high priest 9:2 and requested letters from him to the synagogues 3 in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, 4 either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners 5 to Jerusalem. 6 9:3 As he was going along, approaching 7 Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed 8 around him. 9:4 He 9 fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, 10 why are you persecuting me?” 11 9:5 So he said, “Who are you, Lord?” He replied, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting! 9:6 But stand up 12 and enter the city and you will be told 13 what you must do.” 9:7 (Now the men 14 who were traveling with him stood there speechless, 15 because they heard the voice but saw no one.) 16 9:8 So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, 17 he could see nothing. 18 Leading him by the hand, his companions 19 brought him into Damascus. 9:9 For 20 three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank anything. 21
9:10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The 22 Lord 23 said to him in a vision, “Ananias,” and he replied, “Here I am, 24 Lord.” 9:11 Then the Lord told him, “Get up and go to the street called ‘Straight,’ 25 and at Judas’ house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying, 9:12 and he has seen in a vision 26 a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he may see again.” 9:13 But Ananias replied, 27 “Lord, I have heard from many people 28 about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, 9:14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison 29 all who call on your name!” 30 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument 31 to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. 32 9:16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 33