Definition: As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this passage together. It’s a really interesting and dramatic part of the story of Paul’s early life. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, this verse describes what happened when Paul first started preaching and attracting attention. Here’s a breakdown: “As also the high priest doth bear me witness…” – This means a religious leader (a high priest) was testifying to something. They were observing and confirming that Paul was speaking about things they already believed. “…and all the estate of the elders:” – “The estate of the elders” refers to the leadership and authority of the Jewish religious community at the time. It’s a group of elders who had been overseeing the temple and traditions for centuries. “from whom also I received letters unto the brethren…” – Paul was receiving important instructions or messages from these elders. They were telling him about something important to do. “and went to Damascus:” – This is the key part. Paul traveled to a city called Damascus, which was very far away. “…to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem…” – He was going to this city because he was told by his mentors that they needed to be brought together for a specific purpose. They were being held captive or restrained in the city. “for to be punished.” - This is the reason he traveled so far. The elders were instructing him to be punished for preaching about things God had revealed to them. In short, Paul was traveling to Damascus because he was accused of heresy – he was preaching about a different message than the Jewish leaders believed. What's the big takeaway? It shows that Paul wasn’t just starting out as an apostle; he was already being challenged and facing consequences for his beliefs. It sets up a dramatic story of conflict and ultimately, his eventual conversion to Christianity. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Give you some context about the time period when this happened? Discuss what this passage might symbolize?