Study Desk

"^(F1)(C1)Brothers and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you."

And when they heard that he was addressing them in the ^(F1)(C1)Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet; and he ^(*)said,

"^(C1)I am ^(C2)a Jew, born in ^(C3)Tarsus of ^(C4)Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated ^(F1)under ^(C5)Gamaliel, ^(F2)(C6)strictly according to the Law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as ^(C7)you all are today.

"^(C1)I persecuted this ^(C2)Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons,

as also ^(C1)the high priest and all ^(C2)the Council of the elders ^(F1)can testify. From them I also ^(C3)received letters to ^(C4)the brothers, and started off for ^(C3)Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem ^(F2)as prisoners to be punished.

"^(C1)But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus at about noon, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me,

and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'

"And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am ^(C1)Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.'

"And those who were with me ^(C1)saw the light, but ^(C2)did not ^(F1)understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me.

"And I said, '^(C1)What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that has been appointed for you to do.'