Acts 26:9–18

^9j“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things ¹contrary to the name of ^kJesus of Nazareth. ^10lThis I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority ^mfrom the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. ¹¹ⁿAnd I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

Paul Recounts His Conversion

^12o“While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, ¹³at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. ¹⁴And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ ¹⁵So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, ^pto make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. ¹⁷I will ²deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, ^qto whom I ³now send you, ^18rto open their eyes, in order ^sto turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, ^tthat they may receive forgiveness of sins and ^uan inheritance among those who are ^vsanctified ⁴by faith in Me.’