1But Saul, still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, approached the high priest.
2He requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3As he was traveling and nearing Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
5He said, "Who are You, Lord?" The Lord replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
6Trembling and astonished, he said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" The Lord said to him, "Get up and go into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do."
7The men traveling with him stood speechless; they heard the sound but saw no one.
8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
9For three days he was without sight, and he neither ate nor drank.
10There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He replied, "Here I am, Lord."
11The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas, look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying.
12In a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he might regain his sight."
13Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
14And here he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.
15But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel.
16For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake."