3 I am a Jew, born and raised in the city of Tarsus in Cilicia. I was a student of Gamaliel and was taught to follow every single law of our ancestors. In fact, I was just as eager to obey God as any of you are today.
4 I made trouble for everyone who followed the Lord's Way, and I even had some of them killed. I had others arrested and put in jail. I didn't care if they were men or women.
5 The high priest and all the council members can tell you that this is true. They even gave me letters to the Jewish leaders in Damascus, so that I could arrest people there and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 One day about midday I was getting close to Damascus, when a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.
7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice asking me, “Saul, Saul, why are you so cruel to me?”
8 “Who are you?” I answered.The Lord replied, “I am Jesus from Nazareth! I am the one you are so cruel to.”
9 The men who were travelling with me saw the light, but did not hear the voice.