The Heavenly Calling

12In this connection, as I was traveling to Damascus with authority and a commission from the chief priests,

13At midday, along the road, I saw, O king, a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me.

14And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

15And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’

16But rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you as a servant and witness both of the things in which you have seen me and of the things in which I will appear to you,

17delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you

18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in me.