5. as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to bring those who were prisoners there to be punished in Jerusalem.
6. “As I was traveling and near Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.
7. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? ’
8. “I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord? ’“He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the One you are persecuting! ’
9. Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of the One who was speaking to me.
10. “Then I said, ‘What should I do, Lord? ’“And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about everything that is assigned for you to do.’
11. “Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.
12. Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good reputation with all the Jews residing there,