the exact nature and origin of Paul’s blindness, according to Chilton, the affliction was healed when Ananias baptized Paul; thus, “Paul’s baptism was also a moment of healing.”14 This first phase of Paul’s life concludes with a series of ironies: Paul receives a heavenly vision, but is blinded by it; Paul receives Christian baptism, but is shunned by the Christian community; Paul had committed himself to a very restrictive sect of Judaism, but is called to be a witness to the Gentiles. As the first