³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas^(A) (which means “son of encouragement”),

³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.^{(A) 4} He fell to the ground and heard a voice^(B) say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”^(C)

²⁰ At once he began to preach in the synagogues^(A) that Jesus is the Son of God.^(B)

²² Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.^(A)