2 When the Jews heard him speaking the Jewish language, they became very quiet. Paul said,
3 “I am a Jew. I was born in Tarsus in the country of Cilicia. I grew up in this city. I was a student of Gamaliel. He carefully taught me everything about the law of our ancestors. I was very serious about serving God, just as are all of you here today.
4 I hurt the people who followed the Way of Jesus. Some of them were even killed. I arrested men and women and put them in jail.
5 The high priest and the whole council of Jewish elders can tell you that this is true. These leaders gave me letters to the Jewish brothers in Damascus. So I was going there to arrest these people and bring them back to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 “But something happened to me on my way to Damascus. It was about noon when I came near Damascus. Suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed all around me.
7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you doing things against me?’
8 I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The voice said, ‘I am Jesus from Nazareth. I am the One you are trying to hurt.’