9 Meanwhile Sha’ul (Saul; Grk. Saulos/Saul) was still spouting off murderous threats towards the followers of the master. He went to the chief priest 2 and obtained official letters to enable him to enter the Jewish meeting halls (Grk. synagogues) in Damesek (Damascus) so that if he found either male or female followers of Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus), he could arrest them and bring them to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) in chains.

3 On his journey as he approached Damesek, suddenly light from the sky flashed around him. 4 He dropped to his knees[fn] and heard a voice calling, “Sha’ul, Sha’ul, why are you persecuting me?”

5 “Who are you, master?” he asked.

And the voice replied, “I’m Yeshua, the one that you’re persecuting. 6 Now, stand up and go into the city, and you’ll be told there what you need to do.”

7 Meanwhile his travelling companions had stood there speechless, because they’d heard the voice but couldn’t see anyone. 8 They helped Sha’ul up from the ground, but even when he opened his eyes, he couldn’t see anything. So they had to lead him into Damesek by hand. 9 Sha’ul stayed there for three days, unable to see and not eating or drinking anything.