New American Standard Bible | ►► |
The Conversion of Saul
1Now [a]Saul, still breathing [b]threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
2and asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to [c]the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them in shackles to Jerusalem.
3Now as he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
4and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,
6but get up and enter the city, and it will be told to you what you must do.”
7The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the [d]voice but seeing no one.
8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he [e]could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.
9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,
12and he has seen [f]in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.”
13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he did to Your [g]saints in Jerusalem;
14and here he has authority from the chief priests to [h]arrest all who call on Your name.”
15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen [i]instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
16for I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name.”
17So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18And immediately something like fish scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;
19and he took food and was strengthened. Saul Begins to Preach Christ
Now for several days he was with the disciples who were in Damascus,
20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, [j]saying, “He is the Son of God.”
21All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not the one who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on