“ vvv Brothers and fathers , listen now to my - defense before you. ”
(When) they heard - him speak to them vvv in Hebrew ... , they became even more silent. Then (Paul) declared ,
“ I am a Jew ... , born in Tarsus - of Cilicia , but raised in this - city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am {just as} zealous for God as any of you (here) today.
(I) persecuted this - Way even to the death , detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison ,
as the high priest and the whole Council - can testify about me. vvv I even obtained letters from them to (their) brothers in Damascus , (and) I was on my way to apprehend (these people) ... ... and bring (them) to Jerusalem to be punished.
About noon - (as) I vvv vvv was approaching - Damascus , suddenly a bright light from - heaven flashed around me.
- I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me , ‘ Saul , Saul , why do you persecute Me ? ’
‘ Who are You , Lord ? ’ - I asked. ‘ I am Jesus of Nazareth , whom you are persecuting , ’ - He replied - -.
- My companions ... ... ... - saw the light , but vvv they could not understand the voice of the (One) speaking to me.
Then I asked , ‘ What should I do , Lord ? ’ ‘ Get up (and) go into Damascus , ’ - - (He) told ... me. ‘ There you will be told - all that you have been appointed to do. ’
- Because the brilliance of the - light vvv had blinded me - , - my companions ... ... vvv led me by the hand into Damascus.
(There) a man (named) Ananias , a devout observer of the law (who was) highly regarded by all the Jews living there ,
came - and stood beside me. ‘ Brother Saul , ’ he said - , ‘ receive your sight. ’ And at that (moment) I could see ... him.
Then - he said , ‘ The God of our - fathers has appointed you to know His - will , and to see the Righteous One , and to hear (His) voice ... ... ... ....
- You will be His witness to everyone ... of what you have seen and heard.
And now what are you waiting for ? Get up , be baptized , and wash your - sins {away} , calling on His - name. ’
Later - , (when) I had returned to Jerusalem and - was praying at the temple , I fell into a trance
and saw (the Lord) saying to me , ‘ Hurry ! - Leave ... Jerusalem vvv quickly , because vvv (the people here) will not accept your testimony about Me. ’
‘ Lord , ’ I answered , ‘ vvv they know very well that in one synagogue after another I vvv imprisoned and beat those who believed in You.
And when the blood of Your - witness Stephen was shed , - I vvv stood there vvv giving my approval and watching over the garments of those who killed him. ’
Then He said to me , ‘ Go ! - I will send you far away to (the) Gentiles. ’ ”
- (The crowd) listened to (Paul) until - he made this statement .... Then they lifted up their - voices (and) shouted , “ Rid - the earth of (him) ! - vvv He is not fit ... to live ! ”
(As) they were shouting and throwing off (their) cloaks and tossing dust into the air ,
the commander ordered that (Paul) be brought into the barracks. He directed that (Paul) be flogged and interrogated to determine vvv the reason for this outcry against him.
But as they stretched him out ... vvv to strap him down , - Paul said to the centurion standing there , “ vvv Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen - without a trial ? ”
(On) hearing (this) , the centurion went (and) reported (it) to the commander. “ What are you going to do ? ” he said. “ - This - man is a Roman citizen. ”
- The commander went to (Paul) and asked , “ Tell me , are you a Roman citizen ? ” “ Yes , ” - - he answered.
“ I paid a high price - (for my) citizenship , ” - said the commander. “ But I vvv was born a citizen , ” - - Paul replied.
Then ... those who were about to interrogate (Paul) stepped back ... ... , and the commander (himself) was alarmed when he realized ... ... - that - vvv he had put a Roman citizen {in chains}.
- The next day (the commander) , wanting to learn - the real reason ... - (Paul) was accused by the Jews , released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought - Paul {down} and had him stand before them. [