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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.
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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.'
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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.
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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.'
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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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Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air,
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the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him.
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And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?"