Men, brethren, andfathers, hearye mydefense which I make nowuntoyou. ( Andwhen they heardthathe spakein theHebrewtongueto them, they keptthe moresilence: andhe saith,) Iamverilya man which am a Jew, borninTarsus, a city in Cilicia, yetbrought upinthiscityatthefeetof Gamaliel, and taughtaccordingto the perfect mannerof the lawof thefathers, and waszealoustoward God, asyeallarethis day. And Ipersecutedthiswayuntothe death, bindinganddeliveringintoprisonsbothmenandwomen. Asalsothehigh priestdoth bear me witness, andalltheestate of the elders: fromwhomalsoI receivedlettersuntothebrethren, and wenttoDamascus, to bringthem which weretherebounduntoJerusalem, for tobe punished. Andit came to pass, that, as Imade my journey, andwas come nighunto Damascusaboutnoon, suddenlythere shonefromheavena greatlightround aboutme. AndI felluntotheground, andhearda voicesayingunto me, Saul, Saul, whypersecutest thou me? AndIanswered, Whoartthou, Lord? Andhe saiduntome, IamJesus of Nazareth, whomthoupersecutest. Andthey that werewithmesawindeedthelight, andwereafraid; butthey heardnotthevoiceof him that spaketo me. AndI said, Whatshall I do, Lord? AndtheLordsaiduntome, Arise, and gointoDamascus; and there it shall be toldtheeof all thingswhich are appointed for thee to do. AndwhenI could notseeforthegloryof thatlight, being led by the handofthem that were withme, I cameintoDamascus. AndoneAnanias, a devoutmanaccordingto thelaw, having a good reportofalltheJewswhich dwelt there, Cameuntome, andstood, and saidunto me, BrotherSaul, receive thy sight. And thesamehourIlooked upuponhim. Andhesaid, TheGodof ourfathershath chosenthee, that thou shouldest knowhiswill, andseethat Just One, andshouldest hearthe voiceofhismouth. Forthou shalt behiswitnessuntoallmenof whatthou hast seenandheard. Andnowwhytarriestthou? arise, and be baptized, andwash awaythysins, calling onthenameof theLord. Andit came to pass, that, when Iwas come againtoJerusalem, evenwhile Iprayedinthetemple, Iwasina trance; Andsawhimsayingunto me, Make haste, andget thee quickly out ofJerusalem: for they will notreceivethytestimonyconcerningme. And Isaid, Lord, theyknowthatIimprisonedandbeatin every synagoguethem that believedonthee: Andwhenthebloodof thymartyrStephenwas shed, Ialsowasstanding by, andconsentingunto hisdeath, andkepttheraimentof them that slewhim. Andhe saiduntome, Depart: forI will sendthee far henceunto the Gentiles. Andthey gave him audienceuntothisword, and then lifted uptheirvoices, and said, Awaywith sucha fellow fromtheearth: forit is not fitthat heshould live. Andas theycried out, andcast off their clothes, andthrewdustintotheair, Thechief captaincommandedhimto be broughtintothecastle, and badethat heshould be examinedby scourging; thathe might knowwhereforethey cried so againsthim. Andasthey boundhimwith thongs, Paulsaiduntothe centurionthat stood by, Is it lawfulfor youto scourgea manthat is a Roman, anduncondemned? Whenthecenturionheard that, he wentand toldthechief captain, saying, Take heedwhatthoudoest: forthismanisa Roman. Thenthechief captaincame, and saidunto him, Tellme, artthoua Roman? Hesaid, Yea. Andthechief captainanswered, With a greatsumobtainedIthisfreedom. AndPaulsaid, ButIwas free born. Thenstraightwaythey departedfromhimwhich shouldhave examinedhim: andthechief captainalsowas afraid, after he knewthathe wasa Roman, andbecausehe hadboundhim. Onthemorrow, because he wouldhave knownthecertaintywhereforehe was accusedoftheJews, he loosedhimfrom his bands, andcommandedthechief priestsandalltheircouncilto appear, andbrought Paul down, and sethim beforethem.