Acts 9:1-31 ESV :1-21 ESV Acts 26:1-23 ESV Philippians 3:4-6 ESV (1) But Saul, still breathing (1) "Brothers and fathers, (1) So Agrippa said to Paul, (4) though I myself have threats and murder against the hear the defense that I now "You have permission to reason for confidence in the disciples of the Lord, went to make before you." speak for yourself." Then flesh also. If anyone else the high priest (2) And when they heard Paul stretched out his hand thinks he has reason for (2) and asked him for letters to that he was addressing them and made his defense: confidence in the flesh, I the synagogues at Damascus, in the Hebrew language, they (2) "I consider myself have more: so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or became even more quiet. fortunate that it is before you, (5) circumcised on the eighth women, he might bring them And he said: King Agrippa, I am going to day, of the people of Israel, bound to . (3) "I am a Jew, born in make my defense today of the tribe of Benjamin, a (3) Now as he went on his Tarsus in , but brought against all the accusations of Hebrew of Hebrews; as to way, he approached up in this city, educated at the Jews, the law, a Pharisee; Damascus, and suddenly a light the feet of (3) especially because you (6) as to zeal, a persecutor from heaven flashed around according to the strict manner are familiar with all the of the church; as to him. of the law of our fathers, customs and controversies of righteousness under the law, (4) And falling to the ground he being zealous for God as all the Jews. Therefore I beg blameless. heard a voice saying to him, of you are this day. you to listen to me patiently. "Saul, Saul, why are you (4) I persecuted this Way to (4) "My manner of life from 1 Corinthians 15:8-9 ESV persecuting me?" the death, binding and my youth, spent from the (8) Last of all, as to one (5) And he said, "Who are you, delivering to prison both men beginning among my own untimely born, he appeared Lord?" And he said, "I am , whom you are and women, nation and in Jerusalem, is also to me. persecuting. (5) as the high priest and known by all the Jews. (9) For I am the least of the (6) But rise and enter the city, the whole council of elders (5) They have known for a apostles, unworthy to be and you will be told what you can bear me witness. From long time, if they are willing called an apostle, because I are to do." them I received letters to the to testify, that according to persecuted the church of (7) The men who were brothers, and I journeyed the strictest party of our God. traveling with him stood toward Damascus to take religion I have lived as a speechless, hearing the voice those also who were there Pharisee. 1 Timothy 1:12-17 ESV but seeing no one. and bring them in bonds to (6) And now I stand here on (12) I thank who has given (8) Saul rose from the ground, Jerusalem to be punished. trial because of my hope in me strength, Christ Jesus our and although his eyes were (6) "As I was on my way and the promise made by God to Lord, because he judged me opened, he saw nothing. So drew near to Damascus, our fathers, faithful, appointing me to his they led him by the hand and about noon a great light from (7) to which our twelve tribes service, brought him into Damascus. (9) And for three days he was heaven suddenly shone hope to attain, as they (13) though formerly I was a without sight, and neither ate around me. earnestly worship night and blasphemer, persecutor, and nor drank. (7) And I fell to the ground day. And for this hope I am insolent opponent. But I (10) Now there was a disciple and heard a voice saying to accused by Jews, O king! received mercy because I at Damascus named Ananias. me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you (8) Why is it thought had acted ignorantly in The Lord said to him in a persecuting me?' incredible by any of you that unbelief,

1 vision, "Ananias." And he said, (8) And I answered, 'Who God raises the dead? (14) and the grace of our "Here I am, Lord." are you, Lord?' And he said (9) "I myself was convinced Lord overflowed for me with (11) And the Lord said to him, to me, 'I am Jesus of that I ought to do many the faith and love that are in "Rise and go to the street Nazareth, whom you are things in opposing the name Christ Jesus. called Straight, and at the persecuting.' of Jesus of Nazareth. (15) The saying is house of Judas look for a man (9) Now those who were (10) And I did so in trustworthy and deserving of of Tarsus named Saul, for with me saw the light but did Jerusalem. I not only locked full acceptance, that Christ behold, he is praying, (12) and he has seen in a not understand the voice of up many of the saints in Jesus came into the world to vision a man named Ananias the one who was speaking to prison after receiving save sinners, of whom I am come in and lay his hands on me. authority from the chief the foremost. him so that he might regain his (10) And I said, 'What shall I priests, but when they were (16) But I received mercy for sight." do, Lord?' And the Lord said put to death I cast my vote this reason, that in me, as (13) But Ananias answered, to me, 'Rise, and go into against them. the foremost, Jesus Christ "Lord, I have heard from many Damascus, and there you will (11) And I punished them might display his perfect about this man, how much evil be told all that is appointed often in all the synagogues patience as an example to he has done to your saints at for you to do.' and tried to make them those who were to believe in Jerusalem. (11) And since I could not blaspheme, and in raging fury him for eternal life. (14) And here he has authority see because of the against them I persecuted (17) To the King of ages, from the chief priests to bind all brightness of that light, I was them even to foreign cities. immortal, invisible, the only who call on your name." led by the hand by those who (12) "In this connection I God, be honor and glory (15) But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen were with me, and came into journeyed to Damascus with forever and ever. Amen. instrument of mine to carry my Damascus. the authority and commission name before the Gentiles and (12) "And one Ananias, a of the chief priests. kings and the children of Israel. devout man according to the (13) At midday, O king, I (16) For I will show him how law, well spoken of by all the saw on the way a light from Galatians 1:10-24 ESV much he must suffer for the Jews who lived there, heaven, brighter than the (10) For am I now seeking sake of my name." (13) came to me, and sun, that shone around me the approval of man, or of (17) So Ananias departed and standing by me said to me, and those who journeyed God? Or am I trying to entered the house. And laying 'Brother Saul, receive your with me. please man? If I were still his hands on him he said, sight.' And at that very hour I (14) And when we had all trying to please man, I would "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus received my sight and saw fallen to the ground, I heard not be a servant of Christ. who appeared to you on the him. a voice saying to me in the (11) For I would have you road by which you came has (14) And he said, 'The God Hebrew language, 'Saul, know, brothers, that the sent me so that you may regain of our fathers appointed you Saul, why are you gospel that was preached by your sight and be filled with the me is not man's gospel. Holy Spirit." to know his will, to see the persecuting me? It is hard for (12) For I did not receive it (18) And immediately Righteous One and to hear a you to kick against the from any man, nor was I something like scales fell from voice from his mouth; goads.' his eyes, and he regained his (15) for you will be a witness (15) And I said, 'Who are taught it, but I received it sight. Then he rose and was for him to everyone of what you, Lord?' And the Lord through a revelation of Jesus

2 baptized; you have seen and heard. said, 'I am Jesus whom you Christ. (19) and taking food, he was (16) And now why do you are persecuting. (13) For you have heard of strengthened. For some days wait? Rise and be baptized (16) But rise and stand upon my former life in Judaism, he was with the disciples at and wash away your sins, your feet, for I have how I persecuted the church Damascus. calling on his name.' appeared to you for this of God violently and tried to (20) And immediately he (17) "When I had returned to purpose, to appoint you as a destroy it. proclaimed Jesus in the Jerusalem and was praying servant and witness to the (14) And I was advancing in synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." in the temple, I fell into a things in which you have Judaism beyond many of my (21) And all who heard him trance seen me and to those in own age among my people, were amazed and said, "Is not (18) and saw him saying to which I will appear to you, so extremely zealous was I this the man who made havoc me, 'Make haste and get out (17) delivering you from your for the traditions of my in Jerusalem of those who of Jerusalem quickly, people and from the fathers. called upon this name? And because they will not accept Gentiles--to whom I am (15) But when he who had has he not come here for this your testimony about me.' sending you set me apart before I was purpose, to bring them bound (19) And I said, 'Lord, they (18) to open their eyes, so born, and who called me by before the chief priests?" themselves know that in one that they may turn from his grace, (22) But Saul increased all the synagogue after another I darkness to light and from (16) was pleased to reveal more in strength, and imprisoned and beat those the power of Satan to God, his Son to me, in order that I confounded the Jews who lived who believed in you. that they may receive might preach him among the in Damascus by proving that (20) And when the blood of forgiveness of sins and a Gentiles, I did not Jesus was the Christ. (23) When many days had Stephen your witness was place among those who are immediately consult with passed, the Jews plotted to kill being shed, I myself was sanctified by faith in me.' anyone; him, standing by and approving (19) "Therefore, O King (17) nor did I go up to (24) but their plot became and watching over the Agrippa, I was not Jerusalem to those who were known to Saul. They were garments of those who killed disobedient to the heavenly apostles before me, but I watching the gates day and him.' vision, went away into Arabia, and night in order to kill him, (21) And he said to me, 'Go, (20) but declared first to returned again to Damascus. (25) but his disciples took him for I will send you far away to those in Damascus, then in (18) Then after three years I by night and let him down the Gentiles.'" Jerusalem and throughout all went up to Jerusalem to visit through an opening in the wall, the region of Judea, and also Cephas and remained with lowering him in a basket. to the Gentiles, that they him fifteen days. (26) And when he had come to should repent and turn to (19) But I saw none of the Jerusalem, he attempted to join God, performing deeds in other apostles except James the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not keeping with their the Lord's brother.(20) (In believe that he was a disciple. repentance. what I am writing to you, (27) But took him (21) For this reason the before God, I do not lie!) and brought him to the apostles Jews seized me in the temple (21) Then I went into the and declared to them how on and tried to kill me. regions of and Cilicia. the road he had seen the Lord, (22) To this day I have had (22) And I was still unknown

3 who spoke to him, and how at the help that comes from in person to the churches of Damascus he had preached God, and so I stand here Judea that are in Christ. boldly in the name of Jesus. testifying both to small and (23) They only were hearing (28) So he went in and out great, saying nothing but it said, "He who used to among them at Jerusalem, what the prophets and Moses persecute us is now preaching boldly in the name of said would come to pass: preaching the faith he once the Lord. (23) that the Christ must tried to destroy." (29) And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. suffer and that, by being the (24) And they glorified God But they were seeking to kill first to rise from the dead, he because of me him. would proclaim light both to (30) And when the brothers our people and to the learned this, they brought him Gentiles." down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 2 Corinthians 11:32-33 ESV (31) So the church throughout At Damascus, the governor all Judea and Galilee and under King Aretas was Samaria had peace and was guarding the city of being built up. And walking in Damascus in order to seize the fear of the Lord and in the me, but I was let down in a comfort of the Holy Spirit, it basket through a window in multiplied. the wall and escaped his hands.

1 Corinthians 9:1 ESV (1) Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?

1 Timothy 2:7 ESV (7) For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

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