Acts 22:6-21

Paul's Testimony

6 "As I was traveling and near Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.

7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'

8 "I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' "He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting!'

9 Now those who were with me saw the light,^[a] but they did not hear the voice of the One who was speaking to me.

10 "Then I said, 'What should I do, Lord?' "And the Lord told me, 'Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that is assigned for you to do.'

11 "Since I couldn't see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

12 Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good reputation with all the Jews residing there,

13 came to me, stood by me, and said, 'Brother Saul, regain your sight.' And in that very hour I looked up and saw him.

14 Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the sound of His voice.^[b]

15 For you will be a witness for Him to all people of what you have seen and heard.

16 And now, why delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name.'

17 "After I came back to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple complex, I went into a visionary state

18 and saw Him telling me, 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me!'

19 "But I said, 'Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in You imprisoned and beaten.

20 And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving,^[c] and I guarded the clothes of those who killed him.'

21 "Then He said to me, 'Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' "