Acts 26:11-14 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].'