"I am indeed a Jew, having been born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but having been brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, having been educated according to the exactness of the law of our forefathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.

as also the high priest testifies of me, along with the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brothers, and went to Damascus in order to bring those who were there, having been bound, to Jerusalem, that they might be punished.

Therefore my way of life from my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation in Jerusalem, all the Jews know,

since they have known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

Now Saul was agreeing with them in his murder. And in that day there arose a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they all were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

But Saul was doing injury to the church, going in from house to house, and dragging away both men and women, and committing them to prison.

Then Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

and requested from him letters [of authority] to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he should find any who were of the Way, both men or women, he might bring them, having been bound, to Jerusalem.

But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many wicked things he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem;

and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who are calling on Your name."

And all those who heard were astounded, and were saying, "Is this not the one who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might take them having been bound, to the chief priests?"

Now when Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

I, who persecuted this Way to death, binding and handing over to prisons both men and women,

as also the high priest testifies of me, along with the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brothers, and went to Damascus in order to bring those who were there, having been bound, to Jerusalem, that they might be punished.

Therefore I thought in myself that it was necessary to do many hostile things against the name of Jesus the Nazarene;

And I punished them often in all the synagogues, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even as far as to foreign cities.

For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

with respect to zeal, persecuting the church; with respect to righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

I, who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I was shown mercy because, being ignorant, I did it in unbelief,