Study Desk

"^(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.'

"But since I ^(C1)could not see because of the ^(F1)brightness of that light, I came into Damascus being led by the hand by those who were with me.

"Now a certain ^(C1)Ananias, a man who was devout by the standard of the Law and ^(C2)well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,

came to me, and standing nearby he said to me, '^(C1)Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And ^(F1)(C2)at that very moment I looked up at him.

"And he said, '^(C1)The God of our fathers has ^(C2)appointed you to know His will and to ^(C3)see the ^(C4)Righteous One and to hear a ^(F1)message from His mouth.

'For you will be ^(C1)a witness for Him to all people of ^(C2)what you have seen and heard.

'Now why do you delay? ^(C1)Get up and be baptized, and ^(C2)wash away your sins by ^(C3)calling on His name.'