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.

10 Now there was a believer there in Damesek (Damascus) named Hananyah (Ananias; Grk. Hananias), and the master spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Hananyah.”

“I’m here, master,” he answered.

11 So the master told him, “Get up and go to Yehudah’ (Judas; Grk. Yudas) house in Straight Street where you’ll find a man named Sha’ul (Saul; Grk. Saulos/Saul) from Tarsos. He’s praying right now 12 and in his vision, he saw a man named Hananyah who comes in and places his hands on him so that he can receive his sight back.”

13 But Hananyah resisted, “Master, I’ve heard a lot about that man, including all the evil things he’s done to your dedicated people in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), 14 and the reason he’s here in Damesek with the authority of the chief priests is to arrest everyone who trusts in you.”

15 But the master said, “Go now, because I’ve chosen that man to be a bearer of my name and authority both in other countries, even to their kings, and to the descendants of Yisrael (Israel), 16 because I’ll be showing him what he’s going to have to suffer for bearing my name.”

17 So Hananyah left and went into Yehudah’ house where he placed his hands on Sha’ul and said, “Brother Sha’ul, the master has sent me here—Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) the one you saw on the road when you were coming here—so that you’ll be able to see again and also be filled with the holy spirit.” 18 Immediately something like scales fell off Sha’ul’s eyes and he was able to see again, and he got up and got immersed in water, 19 before getting something to eat to renew his strength.

Then Sha’ul (Saul; Grk. Saulos/Saul) stayed several days with the believers in Damesek (Damascus). 20 He went straight into the Jewish meeting halls and started proclaiming that Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) is God’s son.

21 The hearers were all amazed, saying, “Isn’t this the guy that persecuted the ones following that Yeshua in Yerushalem (Jerusalem), and even came to Damesek to arrest them here and take them back to the chief priests?”

22 But Sha’ul was growing stronger[fn] and he was confounding the Yehudim (Jews) living in Damesek as he taught them that Yeshua is the promised messiah.

23 After several days, the religious Yehudim plotted together to kill him,[ref] 24 but Sha’ul found out about their plan. Those Yehudim were also watching the city exits so they could kill him if he tried leaving, 25 but his supporters took him to the city wall at night time and lowered him down in a basket.

26 When he got back to Yerushalem (Jerusalem), Sha’ul (Saul; Grk. Saulos/Saul) attempted to join in with the believers there but they were all scared of him, not believing that he was a true follower of Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus). 27 However Barnabas took Sha’ul and brought him to the twelve, and Sha’ul told them how he had seen the master on the road, and been spoken to by him, and how he had spoken boldly in Damesek (Damascus) in the name and authority of Yeshua. 28 So Sha’ul stayed connected with the believers, going in and out of Yerushalem and speaking boldly in the name and authority of the master. 29 He also talked and debated with the Greek-speaking Yehudim (Jews), but they wanted to kill him, 30 so when the brothers found out, they took Sha’ul down to Kaisareia on the coast, and from there sent him on a ship to Tarsos.