King James Version (KJV)
Act 22:1-21
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Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence [which I make] now unto you. | |
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(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,) | |
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I am verily a man [which am] a Jew, born in Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, [and] taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. | |
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And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. | |
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As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. | |
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And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. | |
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And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? | |
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And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. | |
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And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. | |
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And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. | |
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And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. | |
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And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt [there], | |
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Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. | |
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And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. | |
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For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. | |
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And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. | |
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And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; | |
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And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. | |
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And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: | |
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And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. | |
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And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. |