A Witness to All People

Paul addressed the crowd in the Hebrew language, and they kept quiet. He said he was a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, brought up in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law, and zealous for God. He had persecuted the Way, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons, as the high priest and the council of elders could testify, for he received letters from them to bring believers bound from Damascus.

About noon near Damascus, a great light from the sky suddenly shone around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" He answered, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice said, "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute." Those with him saw the light and were afraid, but did not understand the voice. Blinded by the glory of that light, he was led by the hand into Damascus.

Ananias, devout according to the law and well reported of by all who lived there, stood by him and said, "Brother Saul, receive your sight!" Paul looked up at him in that very hour. Ananias said the God of their fathers had appointed him to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth, for he would be a witness to all men. Ananias urged him to arise, be baptized, and wash away his sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Later, praying in the temple, Paul fell into a trance and saw the Lord, who said, "Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles."

At that word the crowd raised their voices, threw off their cloaks, and threw dust into the air. The commanding officer ordered Paul brought into the barracks and examined by scourging, to learn why they shouted. As they tied him up with thongs, Paul asked the centurion if it was lawful to scourge a Roman uncondemned. The officer had bought his citizenship for a great price, but Paul said he was born a citizen. Those about to examine him departed, and the officer, afraid because he had bound a Roman, released him the next day and commanded the chief priests and council to meet, setting Paul before them.