Acts 9

1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest

2 and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

3 As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”

5 “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” replied the Lord.

6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.

8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.

9 For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.

10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Here I am, Lord,” he answered.

11 “Get up!” the Lord told him. “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place a hand on him to restore his sight.”

13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

14 And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”

15 “Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.

16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”

17 So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18 At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized,

19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

20 Saul promptly began to proclaim Christ in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”

21 All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

22 But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

23 After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,

24 but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.

25 One night, however, the disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.

26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.

27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.

28 So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus.

29 He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.

30 When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 Then the churches throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. They grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

32 As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.

33 There he found a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.

34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,

35 and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.

37 At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.

38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent to urge him, “Come to them without delay.”

39 So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40 Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

41 Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.

42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

43 And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

1 ¶ And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, ‹Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?›

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, ‹I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:› [it is] ‹hard for thee to kick against the pricks.›

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord [said] unto him, ‹Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.›

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought [him] into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10 ¶ And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, ‹Ananias.› And he said, Behold, I [am here], Lord.

11 And the Lord [said] unto him, ‹Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for› [one] ‹called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,›

12 ‹And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting› [his] ‹hand on him, that he might receive his sight.›

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on 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 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 putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21 But all that heard [him] were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

23 ¶ And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let [him] down by the wall in a basket.

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not 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 he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

30 [Which] when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

32 ¶ And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all [quarters], he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

33 And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and 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 was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid [her] in an upper chamber.

38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring [him] that he would not delay to come to them.

39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing 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 [him] to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41 And he gave her [his] hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

1 And Saul, while he yet spake against the disciples of the LORD, with threats and murders, went to the high priest.

2 And besought him to send letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that, if he found any that way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 And when he was in the way, and was come nigh unto Damascus, suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.

4 And he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Lord, who art thou? And the LORD said: I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. It shall be hard for thee to lick against the sting.

6 And he said with trembling and with fear, Lord, what wilt thou that I should do? And the LORD said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and they shall tell thee what thou shalt do.

7 And the men that were his companions stood still, and were troubled: for they heard a voice, and saw no man.

8 And Saul arose from the earth, and when he had opened his eyes, he saw no man. And they took him by the hand, and led him to Damascus.

9 And was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.

10 And there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, to whom the LORD said in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Here am I, O Lord.

11 And the LORD said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called the right way, and inquire in the house of Judas for Saul, whose name is Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth.

12 And he saw in a vision a man named Ananias come in unto him, and lay his hand upon him to restore his sight.

13 And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard of many concerning this man, how much evil he hath done unto thy saints at Jerusalem.

14 And he hath power here from among the chief priests to bind all them that call upon thy name.

15 And the LORD said unto him, Go thy way: for this is my chosen armour, to bear my name before the heathen, and before kings, and before the children of Israel.

16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name's sake.

17 And Ananias went and came into the house, and laid his hands upon him, and said, Brother Saul, the LORD hath sent me, which appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18 And straightway it fell from his eyes like scales, and he recovered his sight.

19 And arose, and was baptized, and took meat, and strengthened himself. And Saul was some days with the disciples at Damascus.

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he was the Son of God.

21 And they were all amazed when they heard it, and said: Is not this he that destroyeth all them at Jerusalem which call upon this name, and cometh hither to bring them bound unto the chief priests?

22 And Saul waxed stronger and stronger, and drove the Jews that dwelt at Damascus into a strait, and proved that this is the Christ].

23 And after many days the Jews held a council together, that they might kill him.

24 But it was known unto Saul, that they pursued after him. And they watched at the gates day and night, that they might kill him.

25 Then the disciples took him by night, and put him through the wall, and let him down in a basket.

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he sought to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

27 And Barnabas took him, and brought him unto the apostles, and told them how he had seen the Lord in the street, and how he had talked with him, and how he had preached the name of Jesus freely at Damascus.

28 And he was with them, going out and coming in at Jerusalem, and preaching the name of the LORD JEsu freely.

29 He also spake and consulted with the Greeks: but they pursued after him, that they slew him.

30 And when the brethren heard of it, they led him to Caesarea, and sent him to Tarsus.

31 So the church had peace throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and was edified, and walked in the fear of the LORD, and was filled with the consolation of the Holy Ghost.

32 And it came to pass, as Peter passed through every place, that he came also unto the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

33 And there he found a man named Aneas, which had been eight years in the bed, and was sick of the palsy.

34 And Peter said unto him, Aenea, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and pray for thyself. And straightway he arose.

35 And all they that dwelt in Lydda and in Saron saw him, and turned unto the LORD.

36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabea, which is interpreted, She was full of good works and alms which she did.

37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died. So they washed her, and laid her in the upper room.

38 Now Lydda being near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men unto him, exhorting him that he would not neglect to come unto them.

39 And Peter arose, and came with them. And when he was come, they led him up into the upper chamber, and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing him the robes and garments which the deer made, when she was with them.

40 And when Peter had driven them all out, he kneeled down, and prayed, and turned to the body, and said, Tabea, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat down again.

41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and called the saints and widows, and presented them alive.

42 And it was made known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the LORD.

43 And it came to pass, that he abode a long time in Joppa with one Simon, which was a tanner.