5. The chief priest and the entire council of our leaders can prove that I did this. In fact, they even gave me letters to take to the Jewish community in the city of Damascus. I was going there to tie up believers and bring them back to Jerusalem to punish them.
6. “But as I was on my way and approaching the city of Damascus about noon, 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 persecuting me?’
8. “I answered, ‘Who are you, sir?’“The person told me, ‘I’m Jesus from Nazareth, the one you’re persecuting.’