Bible records of Saul/Paul's conversion

Paul, the apostle of Jesus originally known as Saul, was converted from Judaism to
Christianity by unexpectedly meeting Jesus. Luke describes the events in Acts 9
and also reports two occasions on which Paul himself described his conversion
(Acts 22 & 26). Paul also makes comments about some surrounding events in
Galatians 1 & 2. Our aim is to put these four records together in chronological
order.

The Bible passages which refer to events surrounding Paul/Saul's conversion by

Jesus on the road to Damascus are as follows:

• Acts 9:1-30
• Acts 22:3-21
• Acts 26:4-20
• Galatians 1:13-2:10

Other passages of interest on the subject are:

• 1 Corinthians 15:9
• Philippians 3:6
• 1 Timothy 1:13
• Acts 7:59-8:3

Parallel records from Acts 9, 22 & 26 and Galatians 1-2

(Last revised 10 January 2025)

The four records of Saul/Paul's conversion can be interleaved and combined, while
adding a few extra verses before and after can aid understanding by providing a
little context.

The harmonisation is best shown in a table format and viewed on a screen that is
wider than it is high.

The passage in Galatians is ordered based on logic rather than chronology, so two
verses of the text in the following table have been duplicated and placed in two
matching places in the chronological order given in Acts. The text that has been
duplicated is indented and highlighted in cyan. An explanatory note is included in
the place from which it has been copied, highlighted in light blue.

Time periods specified in the text are highlighted in yellow.

The Bible text is taken from the World English Bible (WEB) which has been
released into the public domain.
 Paul's speech
to temple Paul's defence Paul's explanations
Luke's narrative
crowd in before Agrippa to Galatians
Jersualem
Acts Chapter
Acts Chapter 26 Galatians Chapter 1
22
3 "I am indeed a
4 "Indeed, all the
Jew, born in
Jews know my way
Tarsus of
of life from my
Cilicia, but
youth up, which
brought up in
was from the
this city at the
beginning among
feet of 13 For you have heard
my own nation and
Gamaliel, of my way of living in
at Jerusalem; 5
instructed time past in the Jews'
having known me
according to the religion,
from the first, if
strict tradition
they are willing to
of the law of our
testify, that after
fathers, being
the strictest sect of
zealous for God,
our religion I lived
even as you all
a Pharisee.
are this day.
6 Now I stand here
to be judged for the
hope of the
promise made by
God to our fathers,
7 which our twelve
tribes, earnestly
serving night and
day, hope to attain.
Concerning this
hope I am accused
by the Jews, King
Agrippa!
8 Why is it judged
incredible with
you, if God does
raise the dead?
Acts Chapter 7
...
58 They threw
[Stephen] out of the
city, and stoned him.
The witnesses placed
their garments at the
feet of a young man
named Saul. 59 They
stoned Stephen as he
called out, saying,
"Lord Jesus, receive
my spirit!" 60 He
kneeled down, and
cried with a loud
voice, "Lord, don't
hold this sin against
them!" When he had
said this, he fell
asleep.
...
Acts Chapter 8
...
1 Saul was consenting
to his death. A great
persecution arose
against the assembly
which was in
Jerusalem in that day.
They were all
scattered abroad
throughout the
regions of Judea and
Samaria, except for
the apostles. 2 Devout
men buried Stephen,
and lamented greatly
over him. 3 But Saul
ravaged the assembly,
entering into every
house, and dragged
both men and women
off to prison.
...
Acts Chapter 9
1 But Saul, still 4 I persecuted 9 "I myself most how that beyond
breathing threats and this Way to the certainly thought measure I persecuted
slaughter against the death, binding that I ought to do the assembly of God,
disciples of the Lord, and delivering many things and ravaged it.
 into prisons contrary to the
both men and name of Jesus of
women. Nazareth. 10 This I
also did in
Jerusalem. I both
shut up many of
the saints in
prisons, having
received authority
from the chief
priests, and when
they were put to
death I gave my
vote against them.
11 Punishing them
often in all the
synagogues, I tried
to make them
blaspheme. Being
exceedingly
enraged against
them, I persecuted
them even to
foreign cities.
14 I advanced in the
Jews' religion beyond
many of my own age
among my
countrymen, being
more exceedingly
zealous for the
traditions of my
fathers.
5 As also the
went to the high
high priest and
priest, 2 and asked for
all the council
letters from him to the 12 "Whereupon as
of the elders
synagogues of I traveled to
testify, from
Damascus, that if he Damascus with the
whom also I
found any who were authority and
received letters
of the Way, whether commission from
to the brothers,
men or women, he the chief priests,
and traveled to
might bring them
Damascus to
bound to Jerusalem.
bring them also
 who were there
to Jerusalem in
bonds to be
punished.
6 As I made my
journey, and 13 at noon, O king,
3 As he traveled, he
came close to I saw on the way a
got close to
Damascus, light from the sky,
Damascus, and
about noon, brighter than the
suddenly a light from
suddenly a great sun, shining around
the sky shone around
light shone me and those who
him.
around me from traveled with me.
the sky.
14 When we had
all fallen to the
7 I fell to the
earth, I heard a
ground, and
4 He fell on the earth, voice saying to me
heard a voice
and heard a voice in the Hebrew
saying to me,
saying to him, "Saul, language, 'Saul,
'Saul, Saul, why
Saul, why do you Saul, why are you
are you
persecute me?" persecuting me? It
persecuting
is hard for you to
me?'
kick against the
goads.'
8 I answered,
5 He said, "Who are 15 "I said, 'Who
'Who are you,
you, Lord?" are you, Lord?'
Lord?'
15 But when it was the
good pleasure of God,
He said to me, 'I who separated me
The Lord said, "I am "He said, 'I am
am Jesus of from my mother's
Jesus, whom you are Jesus, whom you
Nazareth, whom womb, and called me
persecuting. are persecuting.
you persecute.' through his grace, 16
to reveal his Son in
me,
9 'Those who
were with me
indeed saw the
light and were
afraid, but they
didn't
understand the
voice of him
 who spoke to
me.
10 I said, 'What
shall I do,
Lord?'
16 But arise, and
stand on your feet,
for I have appeared
to you for this
purpose: to appoint
you a servant and a
witness both of the
things which you
have seen, and of
the things which I
The Lord said to
will reveal to you;
me, 'Arise, and
17 delivering you
go into
6 But rise up, and from the people,
Damascus.
enter into the city, and and from the
There you will
you will be told what Gentiles, to whom
be told about all
you must do." I send you, 18 to
things which are
open their eyes,
appointed for
that they may turn
you to do.'
from darkness to
light and from the
power of Satan to
God, that they may
receive remission
of sins and an
inheritance among
those who are
sanctified by faith
in me.'
7 The men who
traveled with him
stood speechless,
hearing the sound, but
seeing no one.
11 When I
8 Saul arose from the
couldn't see for
ground, and when his
the glory of that
eyes were opened, he
light, being led
saw no one. They led
by the hand of
him by the hand, and
those who were
brought him into with me, I came
Damascus. into Damascus.
9 He was without
sight for three days,
and neither ate nor
drank.
12 One Ananias,
a devout man
10 Now there was a according to the
certain disciple at law, well
Damascus named reported of by
Ananias. all the Jews who
lived in
Damascus,
The Lord said to him
in a vision,
"Ananias!"
He said, "Behold, it's
me, Lord."
11 The Lord said to
him, "Arise, and go to
the street which is
called Straight, and
inquire in the house of
Judah for one named
Saul, a man of Tarsus.
For behold, he is
praying, 12 and in a
vision he has seen a
man named Ananias
coming in, and laying
his hands on him, that
he might receive his
sight."
13 But Ananias
answered, "Lord, I
have heard from many
about this man, how
much evil he did to
your saints at
Jerusalem. 14 Here he
has authority from the
chief priests to bind
all who call on your
name."
15 But the Lord said
to him, "Go your way,
for he is my chosen
vessel to bear my
name before the that I might preach
nations and kings, and him among the
the children of Israel. Gentiles,
16 For I will show
him how many things
he must suffer for my
name's sake."
17 Ananias departed,
and entered into the
house. Laying his
hands on him, he said, 13 came to me,
"Brother Saul, the and standing by
Lord, who appeared me said to me,
to you on the road by 'Brother Saul,
which you came, has receive your
sent me, that you may sight!'
receive your sight,
and be filled with the
Holy Spirit."
18 Immediately
In that very hour
something like scales
I looked up at
fell from his eyes, and
him.
he received his sight.
14 He said, 'The
God of our
fathers has
appointed you
to know his
will, and to see
the Righteous
One, and to hear
a voice from his
mouth.
15 For you will
be a witness for
him to all men
of what you
 have seen and
heard.
16 Now why do
you wait? Arise,
be baptized, and
He arose and was
wash away your
baptized.
sins, calling on
the name of the
Lord.'
19 He took food and
was strengthened.
Saul stayed several
days with the
disciples who were at
Damascus.
19 "Therefore,
I didn't immediately
20 Immediately in the King Agrippa, I
confer with flesh and
synagogues he was not
blood, 17 nor did I go
proclaimed the Christ, disobedient to the
up to Jerusalem to
that he is the Son of heavenly vision, 20
those who were
God. but declared first to
apostles before me,
them of Damascus,
21 All who heard him
were amazed, and
said, "Isn't this he
who in Jerusalem
made havoc of those
who called on this
name? And he had
come here intending
to bring them bound
before the chief
priests!"
22 But Saul increased
more in strength, and
confounded the Jews
who lived at
Damascus, proving
that this is the Christ.
but I went away into
Arabia. Then I
returned to Damascus.
23 When many 18 Then after three
days were fulfilled, years
the Jews conspired
together to kill him,
24 but their plot
became known to
Saul. They watched
the gates both day and
night that they might
kill him,
25 but his disciples
took him by night,
and let him down
through the wall,
lowering him in a
basket.
26 When Saul had
come to Jerusalem, he
tried to join himself to 17 "When I had at Jerusalem, and
the disciples; but they returned to throughout all the I went up to Jerusalem
were all afraid of him, Jerusalem, country of Judea,
not believing that he
was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took to visit Peter, and
him, and brought him stayed with
to the apostles, and him fifteen days. 19
declared to them how But of the other
he had seen the Lord apostles I saw no one,
on the way, and that except James, the
he had spoken to him, Lord's brother. 20
and how at Damascus Now about the things
he had preached which I write to you,
boldly in the name of behold, before God,
Jesus. I'm not lying.
28 He was with them
entering into
Jerusalem,
29 preaching boldly in
the name of the Lord
Jesus. He spoke and
disputed against the
Hellenists, but they
were seeking to kill
him.
and while I
prayed in the
 temple, I fell
into a trance, 18
and saw him
saying to me,
'Hurry and get
out of Jerusalem
quickly, because
they will not
receive
testimony
concerning me
from you.'
19 I said, 'Lord,
they themselves
know that I
imprisoned and
beat in every
synagogue those
who believed in
you.
20 When the
blood of
Stephen, your
witness, was
shed, I also was
standing by, and
consenting to
his death, and
guarding the
cloaks of those
who killed him.'
21 "He said to
me, 'Depart, for
I will send you
out far from
here to the
Gentiles.'"
30 When the brothers
knew it, they brought 21 Then I came to the
him down to regions of Syria and
Caesarea, and sent Cilicia.
him off to Tarsus.
22 I was still unknown
by face to the
 assemblies of Judea
which were in Christ,
23 but they only
heard: "He who once
persecuted us now
preaches the faith that
he once tried to
destroy." 24 And they
glorified God in me.
Skipping Acts Chapter
9:31 to Chapter 14:28
(including Paul's first
missionary journey)
Acts Chapter 15 Galatians Chapter 2
1 Then after a period
of fourteen years
1 Some men came 4 This was because of the
down from Judea and false brothers secretly
taught the brothers, brought in, who stole in
"Unless you are to spy out our liberty
circumcised after the which we have in Christ
custom of Moses, you Jesus, that they might
can't be saved." bring us into bondage;

2 Therefore when 5 to whom we gave no

Paul and Barnabas place in the way of
subjection, not for an
had no small discord hour, that the truth of the
and discussion with Good News might
them, continue with you.
they appointed Paul
and Barnabas, and
some others of them,
to go up to Jerusalem
to the apostles and
elders about this
I went up again to
question. 3 They,
Jerusalem with
being sent on their
Barnabas, taking Titus
way by the assembly,
also with me. 2 I went
passed through both
up by revelation,
Phoenicia and
Samaria, declaring the
conversion of the
Gentiles. They caused
great joy to all the
brothers. 4 When they
had come to
Jerusalem,
and I laid before them
the Good News which
I preach among the
they were received by
Gentiles, but privately
the assembly and the
before those who were
apostles and the
respected, for fear that
elders, and they
I might be running, or
reported all things that
had run, in vain. 3 But
God had done with
not even Titus, who
them.
was with me, being a
Greek, was compelled
to be circumcised.
verses 4 and 5 have
been duplicated above
before verse 1 and below
after verse 6.
4 This was because of the
false brothers secretly
5 But some of the sect brought in, who stole in
of the Pharisees who to spy out our liberty
believed rose up, which we have in Christ
saying, "It is Jesus, that they might
necessary to bring us into bondage; 5
circumcise them, and to whom we gave no
to command them to place in the way of
keep the law of subjection, not for an
hour, that the truth of the
Moses." Good News might
continue with you.
6 The apostles and the
elders were gathered
together to see about
this matter. 7 When
there had been much
discussion, Peter rose
up and said to them,
"Brothers, you know
that a good while ago
God made a choice
among you, that by
my mouth the nations
should hear the word
of the Good News,
and believe. 8 God,
who knows the heart,
testified about them,
giving them the Holy
Spirit, just like he did
to us. 9 He made no
distinction between us
and them, cleansing
their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why
do you tempt God,
that you should put a
yoke on the neck of
the disciples which
neither our fathers nor
we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that
we are saved through
the grace of the Lord
Jesus, just as they
are."
12 All the multitude
kept silence, and they
listened to Barnabas
and Paul reporting
what signs and
wonders God had
done among the
nations through them.
13 After they were
silent, James
answered, "Brothers,
listen to me. 14
Simeon has reported
how God first visited
the nations, to take
out of them a people
for his name. 15 This
agrees with the words
of the prophets. As it
is written, 16 'After
these things I will
return. I will again
build the tabernacle of
David, which has
fallen. I will again
build its ruins. I will
set it up, 17 That the
rest of men may seek
after the Lord; all the
Gentiles who are
called by my name,
says the Lord, who
does all these things.
18 All of God’s works
are known to him
from eternity.'
6 But from those who
were reputed to be
19 "Therefore my important (whatever
judgment is that we they were, it makes no
don’t trouble those difference to me; God
from among the doesn't show partiality
Gentiles who turn to to man) - they, I say,
God, who were respected
imparted nothing to
me,
20 but that we write to
them that they abstain
from the pollution of
idols, from sexual
immorality, from
what is strangled, and
from blood. 21 For
Moses from
generations of old has
in every city those
who preach him,
being read in the
synagogues every
Sabbath."
22 Then it seemed
good to the apostles
and the elders, with
the whole assembly,
to choose men out of
their company, and
send them to Antioch
with Paul and
Barnabas: Judas
called Barsabbas, and
Silas, chief men
among the brothers.
23 They wrote these
things by their hand:
"The apostles, the
elders, and the
brothers, to the
brothers who are of
the Gentiles in
Antioch, Syria, and
Cilicia: greetings.
4 This was because of the
24 Because we have false brothers secretly
heard that some who brought in, who stole in
went out from us have to spy out our liberty
troubled you with which we have in Christ
Jesus, that they might
words, unsettling your
bring us into bondage; 5
souls, saying, 'You to whom we gave no
must be circumcised place in the way of
and keep the law,' to subjection, not for an
whom we gave no hour, that the truth of the
commandment; Good News might
continue with you.
25 it seemed good to 7 but to the contrary,
us, having come to when they saw that I
one accord, to choose had been entrusted
out men and send with the Good News
them to you with our for the
beloved Barnabas and uncircumcision, even
Paul, 26 men who as Peter with the Good
have risked their lives News for the
for the name of our circumcision 8 (for he
Lord Jesus Christ. 27 who appointed Peter
We have sent to the apostleship of
therefore Judas and the circumcision
Silas, who themselves appointed me also to
will also tell you the the Gentiles); 9 and
same things by word when they perceived
of mouth. 28 For it the grace that was
seemed good to the given to me, James
Holy Spirit, and to us, and Cephas and John,
to lay no greater they who were reputed
burden on you than to be pillars, gave to
these necessary me and Barnabas the
things: 29 that you right hand of
abstain from things fellowship, that we
sacrificed to idols, should go to the
from blood, from Gentiles, and they to
things strangled, and the circumcision.
from sexual
immorality, from
which if you keep
yourselves, it will be
well with you.
Farewell."
10 They only asked us
to remember the poor -
which very thing I was
also zealous to do.