Acts:22:1-22
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* "
Brethren and fathers ,
hear my defense before you now ."
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And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language ,
they kept all the more silent .
Then he said :
* "
I am indeed a Jew ,
born in Tarsus of Cilicia ,
but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel ,
taught according to the strictness of our fathers '
law ,
and was zealous toward God as you all are today .
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I persecuted this Way to the death ,
binding and delivering into prisons both men and women ,
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as also the high priest bears me witness ,
and all the council of the elders ,
from whom I also received letters to the brethren ,
and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished .
* "
Now it happened ,
as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon ,
suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me .
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And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me , "
Saul ,
Saul ,
why are you persecuting Me ?'
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So I answered , "
Who are You ,
Lord ?'
And He said to me , "
I am Jesus of Nazareth ,
whom you are persecuting .'
* "
And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid ,
but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me .
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So I said , "
What shall I do ,
Lord ?'
And the Lord said to me , "
Arise and go into Damascus ,
and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do .'
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And since I could not see for the glory of that light ,
being led by the hand of those who were with me ,
I came into Damascus .
* "
Then a certain Ananias ,
a devout man according to the law ,
having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there ,
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came to me ;
and he stood and said to me , "
Brother Saul ,
receive your sight .'
And at that same hour I looked up at him .
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Then he said , "
The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will ,
and see the Just One ,
and hear the voice of His mouth .
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For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard .
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And now why are you waiting ?
Arise and be baptized ,
and wash away your sins ,
calling on the name of the Lord .'
* "
Now it happened ,
when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple ,
that I was in a trance
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and saw Him saying to me , "
Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly ,
for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me .'
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So I said , "
Lord ,
they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You .
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And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed ,
I also was standing by consenting to his death ,
and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him .'
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Then He said to me , "
Depart ,
for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles ."'
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And they listened to him until this word ,
and then they raised their voices and said , "
Away with such a fellow from the earth ,
for he is not fit to live !"
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