1"Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make to you."
2When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they were even more quiet. He said,
3"I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as you all are this day.
4I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
5As also the high priest and all the council of the elders testify, from whom also I received letters to the brothers, and journeyed to Damascus to bring them also who were there to Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.
6It happened that, as I made my journey, and came close to Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from the sky a great light around me.
7I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?`
