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"Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now."
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And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said:
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"I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
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I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,
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as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.
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Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.
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And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'
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So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'
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And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.
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So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.'
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And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
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Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,
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came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him.
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Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.
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For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
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And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
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Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance
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and saw Him saying to me, 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.'
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So I said, 'Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You.
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And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.'