I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' Law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.

as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring even those who were there, bound, to Jerusalem to be punished.

My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know.

They knew me from the first, if they were willing to bear witness, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder toward the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind everyone who calls on Your name.

Then all who heard were amazed, and said, Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?

And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to be joined to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.

I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,

as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring even those who were there, bound, to Jerusalem to be punished.

Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

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

concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the Law, blameless.

although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I received mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.