Acts 9

1 AND Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,2 And asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any men and wemen of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.3 And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus; and suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him.4 And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?5 Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.6 And he trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?7 And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the city, and there it shall be told thee what thou must do. Now the men who went in company with him, stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice, but seeing no man.8 And Saul arose from the ground; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. But they leading him by the hands, brought him to Damascus.9 And he was there three days, without sight, and he did neither eat nor drink.10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias. And he said: Behold I am here, Lord.11 And the Lord said to him: Arise, and go into the street that is called Stait, and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prayeth.12 (And he saw a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hands upon him, that he might receive his sight.)13 But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem.14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke thy name.15 And the Lord said to him: Go thy way; for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest; that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and rising up, he was baptized.19 And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples that were at Damascus, for some days.20 And immediately he preached Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.21 And all that heard him, were astonished, and said: Is not this he who persecuted in Jerusalem those that called upon this name: and came hither for that intent, that he might carry them bound to the chief priests?22 But Saul increased much more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, affirming that this is the Christ.23 And when many days were passed, the Jews consulted together to kill him.24 But their laying in wait was made known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night, that they might kill him.25 But the disciples taking him in the night, conveyed him away by the wall, letting him down in a basket.26 And when he was come into Jerusalem, he essayed to join himself to the disciples; and they all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and told them how he had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken to him; and how in Damascus he had dealt confidently in the name of Jesus.28 And he was with them coming in and going out in Jerusalem, and dealing confidently in the name of the Lord.29 He spoke also to the Gentiles, and disputed with the Greeks; but they sought to kill him.30 Which when the brethren had known, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.31 Now the church had peace throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria; and was edified, walking in the fear of the Lord, and was filled with the consolation of the Holy Ghost.32 And it came to pass that Peter, as he passed through, visiting all, came to the saints who dwelt at Lydda.33 And he found there a certain man named Eneas, who had kept his bed for eight years, who was ill of the palsy.34 And Peter said to him: Eneas, the Lord Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise, and make thy bed. And immediately he arose.35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron, saw him: who were converted to the Lord.36 And in Joppe there was 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 was sick, and died. Whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppe, the disciples hearing that Peter was there, sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not be slack to come unto them.39 And Peter rising up, went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber. And all the widows stood about him weeping, and shewing him the coats and garments which Dorcas made them.40 And they all being put forth, Peter kneeling down prayed, and turning to the body, he said: Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and seeing Peter, she sat up.41 And giving her his hand, he lifted her up. And when he had called the saints and the widows, he presented her alive.42 And it was made known throughout all Joppe; and many believed in the Lord.43 And it came to pass, that he abode many days in Joppe, 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