³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.^{(A) 4} He fell to the ground and heard a voice^(B) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”^(C)

⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound^(D) but did not see anyone.^{(E) 8} Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.^(F) So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision,^(G) “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus^(H) named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on^(I) him to restore his sight.”

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people^(J) in Jerusalem.^{(K) 14} And he has come here with authority from the chief priests^(L) to arrest all who call on your name.”^(M)

¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument^(N) to proclaim my name to the Gentiles^(O) and their kings^(P) and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”^(Q)

¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on^(R) Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”^(S)

⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:^(A) “Do not be afraid;^(B) keep on speaking, do not be silent.

¹⁴ “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors^(A) has chosen you to know his will and to see^(B) the Righteous One^(C) and to hear words from his mouth.

¹⁸ and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ he said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’

¹¹ The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!^(A) As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”^(B)

¹⁶ ‘Now get up and stand on your feet.^(A) I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.^(B)

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle

9 Am I not free?^(A) Am I not an apostle?^(B) Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?^(C) Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?^(D)