Paul Tells of His Conversion and Commission

12 “While engaged in such things, I was on my way to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 when at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who were traveling with me. 14 When we had all fallen down to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are yoʋ persecuting me? It is hard for yoʋ to kick against the goads.’ 15 I said, ‘Who are yoʋ, Lord?’ [fn]He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom yoʋ are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on yoʋr feet, for I have appeared to yoʋ for this purpose, to appoint yoʋ as a servant and witness to the things [fn]yoʋ have seen and to the things in which I will appear to yoʋ. 17 I will rescue yoʋ from yoʋr own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I [fn]am sending yoʋ 18 to open their eyes [fn]so that they may turn away from darkness to light, and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an allotment among those who have been sanctified by faith in me.’