Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Courts of justice » Sometimes held in synagogues
"In all the synagogues also I punished them oftentimes, and tried to make them blaspheme; and in my mad fury I was pursuing them even to foreign cities.
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"But beware of men! For they will give you up to the Sanhedrin, and flog you in their synagogues.
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"'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you,
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Suppose a man comes into your synagogue with a gold ring and dazzling clothes, and suppose a poor man comes in, also, in shabby clothes,
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Paul » Called to be an apostle
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and Sosthenes, his brother.
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Paul, an apostle sent not from men nor by any man, but by Jesus Christ and by God the Father who raised him from the dead;
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But when God who had set me apart from my very birth, and had called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach his gospel among the Gentiles, without consulting a human being,
From Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for a gospel of God,
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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus,
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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
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Paul, and apostle of Jesus Christ by command of God our Saviour and Jesus Christ our Hope,
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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, sent forth to proclaim the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus.
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It was for this testimony that I myself was appointed a herald and apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), to be a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
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To Titus, my true son in a common faith, from Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and to the knowledge of the truth which goes with piety;
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Show 6 more verses
For I am the least of the apostles, I who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
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but manifested in his own time; that word of his in proclaiming which I have been entrusted by command of God our Saviour.
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Of the gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher; and that is the reason I am now undergoing these sufferings.
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"Then he said: "'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. "'For before the face of all men you will be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard. "'And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.' read more.
"After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you, "'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
"After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you, "'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
"'But rise and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you in order to appoint you my minister and my witness both of what you have already seen and of those things in which I will appear to you. "'I will deliver you from the Jewish people, and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you to open their eyes "'so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, in order to receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? Even if I am not an apostle to others, to you at least I am; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
Paul » His vision and conversion
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
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and last of all, as by one born out of due time, he was seen by me also.
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And I am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has thus enabled me, that he accounted me faithful, and appointed me to his service, although I had formerly been a blasphemer and a persecutor and a doer of outrage. But I obtained mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.
For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how furiously I used to persecute the church of God, and how I kept seeking to root it out;
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And as he journeyed, when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him. He fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" And he said, "Who are you Lord?" read more.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he said: "Stand up and go into the city, and there you shall be told what you must do." Meanwhile the men who were his fellow travelers stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one. And Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he continued to perceive nothing; so they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. And he remained there three days, seeing nothing, and without eating or drinking. Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Lo, I am here, Lord." And the Lord said to him. "Arise, go into the street named 'Straight,' and make inquiries in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus, one Saul. He is now praying, and has seen a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him to restore his sight." "But, Lord," said Ananias, "I have heard from many about that man, and how much evil he did to the saints at Jerusalem! "In this city, too, he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all those who call upon thy name." "Go," answered the Lord, "this man is chosen instrument of mine to bear my name before the nations and their kings, and before the Children of Israel also; "for I am going to show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my name." And so Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, has sent me that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Instantly something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized. Afterward he took food and was strengthened. And he remained for some time with the disciples at Damascus. And he began at once to proclaim in the synagogues Jesus as the Son of God. His hearers were all astonished, and began to say. "Is not this the very man who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called upon the Name? Did he not come hither for the express purpose of carrying them all in chains to the high priests?" But Saul gained more and more influence, and kept putting the Jews who lived in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he said: "Stand up and go into the city, and there you shall be told what you must do." Meanwhile the men who were his fellow travelers stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one. And Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he continued to perceive nothing; so they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. And he remained there three days, seeing nothing, and without eating or drinking. Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Lo, I am here, Lord." And the Lord said to him. "Arise, go into the street named 'Straight,' and make inquiries in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus, one Saul. He is now praying, and has seen a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him to restore his sight." "But, Lord," said Ananias, "I have heard from many about that man, and how much evil he did to the saints at Jerusalem! "In this city, too, he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all those who call upon thy name." "Go," answered the Lord, "this man is chosen instrument of mine to bear my name before the nations and their kings, and before the Children of Israel also; "for I am going to show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my name." And so Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, has sent me that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Instantly something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized. Afterward he took food and was strengthened. And he remained for some time with the disciples at Damascus. And he began at once to proclaim in the synagogues Jesus as the Son of God. His hearers were all astonished, and began to say. "Is not this the very man who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called upon the Name? Did he not come hither for the express purpose of carrying them all in chains to the high priests?" But Saul gained more and more influence, and kept putting the Jews who lived in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ.
"I persecuted to the death this way, continually binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women. "To this the high priest and all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from them that I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in bonds, for punishment. "But when, on my journey, I was nearing Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone round about me. read more.
"I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, "'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?' "'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,' he answered me. "Now my companions, though they beheld the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me. "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, 'Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that you are destined to do.' "And as I was seeing nothing for the glory of the light, I was led by the hand of my companions, and so came into Damascus. "And a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the Law, well thought of by all the Jews who lived there, "came to me, and standing by me, said to me, "'Brother Saul, receive your sight' "In that very hour I regained my sight and looked up at him. "Then he said: "'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. "'For before the face of all men you will be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard. "'And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.' "After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you,
"I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, "'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?' "'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,' he answered me. "Now my companions, though they beheld the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me. "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, 'Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that you are destined to do.' "And as I was seeing nothing for the glory of the light, I was led by the hand of my companions, and so came into Damascus. "And a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the Law, well thought of by all the Jews who lived there, "came to me, and standing by me, said to me, "'Brother Saul, receive your sight' "In that very hour I regained my sight and looked up at him. "Then he said: "'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. "'For before the face of all men you will be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard. "'And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.' "After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you,
"I indeed once thought with myself that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus, the Nazarene. "And this also I did in Jerusalem. Armed with authority from the chief priests, I shut up many of the saints in prison, and when they were condemned to death I gave my vote against them. "In all the synagogues also I punished them oftentimes, and tried to make them blaspheme; and in my mad fury I was pursuing them even to foreign cities. read more.
"On this errand I was traveling to Damascus one day, armed with authority and commission of the chief priests, "when at noon, as I journeyed, O King, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and around those who journeyed with me. "We all fell to the ground; and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew. "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.' "'Who are you, Lord?' I said." And the Lord said: 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
"On this errand I was traveling to Damascus one day, armed with authority and commission of the chief priests, "when at noon, as I journeyed, O King, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and around those who journeyed with me. "We all fell to the ground; and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew. "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.' "'Who are you, Lord?' I said." And the Lord said: 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
Paul » Sent to the gentiles
And as they were worshiping the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them, and let them go.
I act as priest of the gospel of God; so that the Gentiles, when offered before him, may be an acceptable sacrifice, because consecrated by the Holy Spirit.
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But when God who had set me apart from my very birth, and had called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach his gospel among the Gentiles, without consulting a human being, or even going up to Jerusalem to see those who had been apostles before me, I went off at once to Arabia, and on my return came back to Damascus. read more.
Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter, and spent two weeks with him. I saw no other apostle except James, the Lord's brother. (In what I am now writing, I call God to witness that I am telling the truth.) Then I went into the districts of Syria and Cilicia. But to the churches of Christ in Judea I was personally unknown; only they used to hear it said, "He who was once persecuting us is now preaching the gospel of the very faith which he once tried to ruin." And they were giving glory to God on my account.
Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter, and spent two weeks with him. I saw no other apostle except James, the Lord's brother. (In what I am now writing, I call God to witness that I am telling the truth.) Then I went into the districts of Syria and Cilicia. But to the churches of Christ in Judea I was personally unknown; only they used to hear it said, "He who was once persecuting us is now preaching the gospel of the very faith which he once tried to ruin." And they were giving glory to God on my account.
For to you who are Gentiles I say that since I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry,
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"For such is God's command to us, saying, "I have set thee for a light to the Gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation to the uttermost part of the earth." When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who had been ordained to eternal life, believed.
"After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you, read more.
"'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
"'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
Paul » His defense
Then the tribune came up and seized him, and ordered that he be bound with two chains. "Who is he?" he began asking, "and what has he done?" Some among the crowd kept shouting one thing, some another; and when the tribune could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered Paul into the barracks. When was going up the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers, because of the violence of the mob, read more.
for the whole mass of the people were following him, shouting, "Away with him!" Just as he was about to be taken into the barracks, Paul said to the tribune, "May I speak to you?" "Do you know Greek?" said the tribune; "Are you not, then, the Egyptian who in days gone by stirred up to sedition, and let into the wilderness the four thousand cutthroats?" "I am a Jew," answered Paul, "a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. And I pray you, give me permission to speak to the people." So when he had given leave, Paul stood on the stairs, beckoning with his hands to the people. There came a great hush, and he spoke to them as follows, in Hebrew.
for the whole mass of the people were following him, shouting, "Away with him!" Just as he was about to be taken into the barracks, Paul said to the tribune, "May I speak to you?" "Do you know Greek?" said the tribune; "Are you not, then, the Egyptian who in days gone by stirred up to sedition, and let into the wilderness the four thousand cutthroats?" "I am a Jew," answered Paul, "a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. And I pray you, give me permission to speak to the people." So when he had given leave, Paul stood on the stairs, beckoning with his hands to the people. There came a great hush, and he spoke to them as follows, in Hebrew.
"Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense which I now make in your presence." When they heard him speaking in Hebrew they became the more quiet. "I am a Jew," he said, "born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strict manner of the Law of our forefathers, ardent for God, even as you all are this day. read more.
"I persecuted to the death this way, continually binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women. "To this the high priest and all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from them that I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in bonds, for punishment. "But when, on my journey, I was nearing Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone round about me. "I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, "'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?' "'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,' he answered me. "Now my companions, though they beheld the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me. "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, 'Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that you are destined to do.' "And as I was seeing nothing for the glory of the light, I was led by the hand of my companions, and so came into Damascus. "And a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the Law, well thought of by all the Jews who lived there, "came to me, and standing by me, said to me, "'Brother Saul, receive your sight' "In that very hour I regained my sight and looked up at him. "Then he said: "'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. "'For before the face of all men you will be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard. "'And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.' "After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you, "'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
"I persecuted to the death this way, continually binding and delivering up to prisons both men and women. "To this the high priest and all the council of elders are witnesses. It was from them that I received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was already on my way to bring those also who were there back to Jerusalem, in bonds, for punishment. "But when, on my journey, I was nearing Damascus, about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone round about me. "I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, "'Saul! Saul! why are you persecuting me?' "'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus, the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting,' he answered me. "Now my companions, though they beheld the light, did not hear the words of Him who spoke to me. "And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' and the Lord said to me, 'Rise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told about all that you are destined to do.' "And as I was seeing nothing for the glory of the light, I was led by the hand of my companions, and so came into Damascus. "And a certain Ananias, a pious man according to the Law, well thought of by all the Jews who lived there, "came to me, and standing by me, said to me, "'Brother Saul, receive your sight' "In that very hour I regained my sight and looked up at him. "Then he said: "'The God of our forefathers has appointed you to know his will; and to see the righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth. "'For before the face of all men you will be a witness for him of what you have seen and heard. "'And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon his name.' "After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you, "'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
Synagogue » Primarily an assembly of jews and God-fearers » Had powers » Of criminal courts
"For this cause, behold! I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and pursue from city to city;
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"In all the synagogues also I punished them oftentimes, and tried to make them blaspheme; and in my mad fury I was pursuing them even to foreign cities.
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"But beware of men! For they will give you up to the Sanhedrin, and flog you in their synagogues.
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"'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you,
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Synagogues » Offenders were often » Punished in
"For this cause, behold! I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and pursue from city to city;
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"But beware of men! For they will give you up to the Sanhedrin, and flog you in their synagogues.
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"'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you,
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Temple » Herod the great's temple » Paul's vision in
"After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you, read more.
"'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
"'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
Vision » Of balaam » In a trance
"After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you, read more.
"'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
"'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
Vision » Of paul » In a trance
"After my return to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, "I fell into a trance and saw him saying to me, "'Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not receive your testimony concerning me.' "'Lord,' I replied, 'they themselves well know that I was beating and imprisoning in synagogue after synagogue those who believed in you, read more.
"'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"
"'and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting, and holding the garments of his murders.' "'Depart,' he said to me, 'for I will send you forth, far hence, to the Gentiles.'"