 I was so violently opposed to them, Paul says, I hounded them in distant cities of foreign land. So one day, I'm on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priest. About noon, your majesty, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It's hard for you to fight against my will.