Acts 9

1 But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,2 and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.3 And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven:4 and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:6 but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.7 And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man.8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.9 And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth;12 and he hath 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 of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:14 and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:16 for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.17 And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.18 And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;19 and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus.20 And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.21 And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests.22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.23 And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him:24 but their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also 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 And when he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.28 And he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem,29 preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spake and disputed against the Grecian Jews; but they were seeking to kill him.30 And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.31 So the church throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.32 And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout all parts, he came down also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda.33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had kept his bed eight years; for he was palsied.34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise and make thy bed. And straightway he arose.35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.37 And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died: and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber.38 And as Lydda was nigh unto Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men unto him, entreating him, Delay not to come on unto us.39 And Peter arose and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up.41 And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.42 And it became known throughout all Joppa: and many believed on the Lord.43 And it came to pass, that he abode many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

Acts 9

The Conversion of Saul

1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threatst to murdert the Lord’s disciples, went to the high priest2 and requested letters from him to the synagoguess in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way,s either men or women, he could bring them as prisonerst to Jerusalem.ss3 As he was going along, approachingt Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashedt around him.4 Het fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul,t why are you persecuting me?”s5 So he said, “Who are you, Lord?” He replied, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting!6 But stand upt and enter the city and you will be toldt what you must do.”7 (Now the ment who were traveling with him stood there speechless,t because they heard the voice but saw no one.)s8 So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open,t he could see nothing.s Leading him by the hand, his companionst brought him into Damascus.

9 Fort three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank anything.t
10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. Thet Lords said to him in a vision, “Ananias,” and he replied, “Here I am,t Lord.”11 Then the Lord told him, “Get up and go to the street called ‘Straight,’s and at Judas’ house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying,12 and he has seen in a visionss a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he may see again.”13 But Ananias replied,s “Lord, I have heard from many peoplet about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem,14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprisont all who call on your name!”s15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrumentt to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel.t16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”t17 So Ananias departed and entered the house, placedt his hands on Sault and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here,t has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”s18 Immediatelyt something like scalest fell from his eyes, and he could see again. Het got up and was baptized,

19 and after taking some food, his strength returned.
For several dayst he was with the disciples in Damascus,20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,s saying, “This man is the Son of God.”ts21 Allt who heard him were amazed and were saying, “Is this nott the man who in Jerusalem was ravagingt those who call on this name, and who had come here to bring them as prisonerst to the chief priests?”

22 But Saul became more and more capable,t and was causing consternationt among the Jews who lived in Damascus by provingt that Jesust is the Christ.ts

Saul’s Escape from Damascus

23 Now after some days had passed, the Jews plotteds together to kill him,24 but Saul learned of their plot against him.t They were also watchingt the city gatest day and night so that they could kill him.

25 But his disciples took him at night and let him down through an openingt in the wall by lowering him in a basket.t

Saul Returns to Jerusalem

26 When he arrived in Jerusalem,s he attempted to associatet with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they did not believet that he was a disciple.27 But Barnabas tookt Saul,t broughtt him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, thatt the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldlyt in the name of Jesus.28 So he was staying with them, associating openly with themt in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.29 He was speaking and debatingt with the Greek-speaking Jews,t but they were trying to kill him.

30 When the brothers found out about this, they brought him down to Caesareass and sent him away to Tarsus.

31 Thent the church throughout Judea, Galilee,t and Samaria experiencedt peace and thus was strengthened.t Livingt in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the churcht increased in numbers.

Peter Heals Aeneas

32 Nowt as Peter was traveling around from place to place,t he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.s33 He found there a man named Aeneas who had been confined to a mattress for eight years becauset he was paralyzed.34 Petert said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christst heals you. Get up and make your own bed!”t And immediately he got up.

35 Allt those who lived in Lyddas and Sharons saw him, and theyt turneds to the Lord.

Peter Raises Dorcas

36 Now in Joppas there was a disciple named Tabitha (which in translation meanst Dorcas).s She was continually doing good deeds and acts of charity.t37 At that timet she became sickt and died. When they had washedt her body,t they placed it in an upstairs room.38 Because Lyddas was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Come to us without delay.”t39 So Peter got up and went with them, andt when he arrivedt they brought him to the upper room. Allt the widows stood beside him, crying and showing himt the tunicst and other clothingt Dorcas used to maket while she was with them.40 But Peter sent them all outside,t knelt down,t and prayed. Turningt to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.s41 He gavet her his hand and helped her get up. Then he calledt the saints and widows and presented her alive.42 This became known throughout allt Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.s

43 Sot Petert stayed many days in Joppa with a man namedt Simon, a tanner.t