Acts 26:11-19 I often persecuted them in the synagogues, even trying to get them to blaspheme i.e., speak against God. I had extreme anger toward them and even traveled to foreign cities in my effort to persecute them.

AUV⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹¹ I often persecuted them in the synagogues, [even] trying to get them to blaspheme [i.e., speak against God]. I had extreme anger toward them and [even] traveled to foreign cities [in my effort] to persecute them. ¹² "While on a journey to Damascus for this purpose, I was acting under the authority and directive of the leading priests. ¹³ [Then] along the road, about noon, O King, I saw a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me. ¹⁴ When we all fell to the ground I heard a voice speaking in the Hebrew [i.e., Aramaic] language. [It said], 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are only hurting yourself by kicking against the spurs [i.e., opposing the work of God].' ¹⁵ I answered, 'Who are you, sir?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But, get up onto your feet, for the reason I have appeared to you is to appoint you a minister and witness of both the things you have [already] seen of me and the things I will [reveal when] appearing to you. ¹⁷ I will rescue you from the [Jewish] people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them, ¹⁸ to open their eyes [to the truth] so they will turn from darkness to light and from the power [i.e., the influence] of Satan to God. [Then] they can receive the forgiveness of sins and the inheritance [of never ending life], along with [all] those who are set apart [for God] by trusting in Me.' ¹⁹ "As a result of this, O King, I did not disobey [the mandate of] this vision from heaven