22:1 "Brethren and fathers, hear the defense which I now make before you." 22:2 And when they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet. And he said:

22:3 "I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cili'cia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gama'li-el, educated according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all are this day. 22:4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 22:5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brethren, and I journeyed to Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

22:6 "As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me. 22:7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' 22:8 And I answered, `Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, `I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.' 22:9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 22:10 And I said, `What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, `Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.' 22:11 And when I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
 

26:4 "My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 26:5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. 26:6 And now I stand here on trial for hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 26:7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! 26:8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

26:9 "I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 26:10 And I did so in Jerusalem; I not only shut up many of the saints in prison, by authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 26:11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme; and in raging fury against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
 

26:12 "Thus I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 26:13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round me and those who journeyed with me. 26:14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.' 26:15 And I said, `Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, `I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 26:16 But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 26:17 delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I send you 26:18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'