Saul’s Conversion. 1^* Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,^a went to the high priest^b 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,^* he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. 3On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.^c 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”^d 5He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.^e 6Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.”^f 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.^g 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;^* so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.^h 9For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.

Saul’s Baptism. 10ⁱ There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying,^j 12and [in a vision] he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay [his] hands on him, that he may regain his sight.” 13But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones^* in Jerusalem.^k 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.”^l 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites,^m 16and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” 17So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.” 18Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized,

15ⁱ He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 18They will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”^j