² and requested from him official letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that he could find people who belonged to the Way, men and women alike, tie them up and bring them back to Jerusalem.

³ While he was on the journey, and was getting near to Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice speaking to him.

“Saul, Saul!” said the voice. “Why are you persecuting me?”