5. The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers of the Way from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished.
6. “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me.
7. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8. “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.“And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’
9. The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.