But Saul still breathing out threats
to murder the disciples of the Lord,
having gone to the High Priest
asked for letters from him
to the synagogues in Damascus,
so that if he found any who
might belong to the Way,
he might bind them
and bring them to Jerusalem.
Now as he travelled
he drew near to Damascus (and)
suddenly
a light from heaven flashed around
and having fallen on the ground
he heard a voice, saying to him
‘Saul, Saul,
why are you persecuting me?’
So he said:
‘Who are you, Lord?’
‘I am Jesus, whom you persecute.
But get up and go into the city,
and
it will be told to you
what must be done.’
The men who were travelling with him
had been standing speechless,
hearing the voice
but seeing no-one.
Saul got up from the ground,
When his eyes were opened,
he saw nothing.
So leading him by the hand
they brought him into Damascus
and for three days
he was unable to see
and he ate and drank nothing.
Eternal Light, shine into our hearts,
Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil,
Eternal Power, be our support,
Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance,
Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us;
that with all our heart and mind
and soul and strength we may seek thy face
and be brought by thine infinite mercy
to thy holy presence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Alcuin (735-804)