1. “Brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now make to you.”
2. When they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. Then he said,
3. “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was trained in the strict tradition of the law of the fathers, being zealous toward God as you all are today.
4. I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and imprisoning both men and women,
5. as even the high priest and the council of elders bear witness of me. From them I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, where I went to take even those who were there and lead them in chains to Jerusalem to be punished.
6. “As I journeyed and came near Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.
7. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’
8. “I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’“He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’
9. Those who were with me saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who was speaking to me.
10. “I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’“The Lord said to me, ‘Rise and go into Damascus. There you will be told what you have been appointed to do.’