Pauls Account Of What He Saw An
I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, but I was brought up in
Jerusalem, educated as a disciple of Gamaliel in the strict way laid
down in the laws received from our fathers, and devoted to God, as you
all are.
You know what I did in the past among the Jews. You know how bitterly I
persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it and how in my zeal
for the laws and customs handed down from my forefat
ers I did more than
any of my fellow countrymen. I indeed believed that it was my duty to do
all in my power to oppose the cause of Jesus of Nazareth. This I did in
Jerusalem. With authority from the high priests, I put many of Jesus'
followers in prison. When they were put to death, I voted against them.
In all the synagogues I often punished them and tried to make them speak
against the name of Jesus, and in my insane fury I followed them even to
distant cities.
When I was travelling to Damascus on this business, with written
authority from the high priests, I saw, on the road in the middle of the
day, a light from heaven, more dazzling than the glare of the sun,
shining around me and those who were travelling with me. We fell to the
ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, "Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads." I asked,
"Who art thou, Lord?" and the Lord answered, "I am Jesus whom you are
persecuting. Rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you to
appoint you to be my servant and a witness to what you have seen and to
the things that I will show you. I chose you from the Jews and the other
peoples to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, that they may turn
from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, so that they may
receive forgiveness of their sins and a place among those who have given
themselves to me because they believe in me."
When the God, who had set me apart even from my birth and called me by
his love, chose to reveal his Son in me that I might tell to other races
the good news about him, I at once went into Arabia instead of talking
with any one else or going up to Jerusalem to see those who had been
apostles before me. When I came back I preached first to those at
Damascus. There the governor, appointed by King Aretas, put guards in
the city to arrest me, but I was lowered in a basket through a window in
the wall and so escaped from their hands.
After three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter and stayed with
him fifteen days. I saw no other apostle except James the brother of
Jesus.