4. I persecuted this Way, even unto death, binding and delivering into custody both men and women,
5. just as the high priest and all those greater by birth bear witness to me. Having received letters from them to the brothers, I journeyed to Damascus, so that I might lead them bound from there to Jerusalem, so that they might be punished.
6. But it happened that, as I was traveling and was approaching Damascus at midday, suddenly from heaven a great light shone around me.
7. And falling to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'
8. And I responded, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.'
9. And those who were with me, indeed, saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of him who was speaking with me.
10. And I said, 'What should I do, Lord?' Then the Lord said to me: 'Rise up, and go to Damascus. And there, you shall be told all that you must do.'
11. And since I could not see, because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by my companions, and I went to Damascus.
12. Then a certain Ananias, a man in accord with the law, having the testimony of all the Jews who were living there,
13. drawing near to me and standing close by, said to me, 'Brother Saul, see!' And in that same hour, I looked upon him.
14. But he said: 'The God of our fathers has preordained you, so that you would come to know his will and would see the Just One, and would hear the voice from his mouth.
15. For you shall be his witness to all men about those things which you have seen and heard.
16. And now, why do you delay? Rise up, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, by invoking his name.'
17. Then it happened that, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, a mental stupor came over me,
18. and I saw him saying to me: 'Hurry! Depart quickly from Jerusalem! For they will not accept your testimony about me.'
19. And I said: 'Lord, they know that I am beating and enclosing in prison, throughout every synagogue, those who have believed in you.
20. And when the blood of your witness Stephen was poured out, I stood nearby and was consenting, and I watched over the garments of those who put him to death.'
21. And he said to me, 'Go forth. For I am sending you to far away nations.' "
22. Now they were listening to him, until this word, and then they lifted up their voice, saying: "Take this kind away from the earth! For it is not fitting for him to live!"