Paul's Commission to Preach to the Gentiles

17 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not accept yoʋr testimony about me.’ 19 So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe in yoʋ. 20 And when the blood of yoʋr witness Stephen was being shed, I myself stood there [fn]approving of his execution [fn]as I watched over the cloaks of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send yoʋ far away to the Gentiles.’ ”