Acts 9
1 But Saul, still breathing threat and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, after going to the high priest,
Now Saul, whose every breath was a threat of destruction for the disciples of the Lord,
2 he requested letters from him for Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
went to the High Priest and begged from him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, in order that if he found any believers there, either men or women, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.
3 And on going, it came to pass for him to approach Damascus. And suddenly there shone around him a light out of heaven.
But on the journey, as he was getting near Damascus, suddenly there flashed round him a light from Heaven;
4 And after falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do thou persecute me?
and falling to the ground he heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
5 And he said, Who are thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecute.
"Who art thou, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," was the reply.
6 But arise, and enter into the city, and it will be told thee what thou must do.
"But rise and go to the city, and you will be told what you are to do.
7 And the men who traveled with him had stopped, speechless, indeed hearing the voice, but seeing no man.
Meanwhile the men who travelled with Saul were standing dumb with amazement, hearing a sound, but seeing no one.
8 And Saul arose from the ground. And when his eyes were opened, he saw no man. But they brought him into Damascus, leading him by the hand.
Then he rose from the ground, but when he had opened his eyes, he could not see, and they led him by the arm and brought him to Damascus.
9 And he was three days not seeing, and did not eat or drink.
And for two days he remained without sight, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus, named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold me, Lord.
Now in Damascus there was a disciple of the name of Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" "I am here, Lord," he answered.
11 And the Lord said to him, After rising, go into the street called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas, a man named Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
"Rise," said the Lord, "and go to Straight Street, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man called Saul, from Tarsus, for he is actually praying.
12 And he saw in a vision a man named Ananias who came in and laid a hand on him, so that he might receive sight.
He has seen a man called Ananias come and lay his hands upon him so that he may recover his sight."
13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many evil things he did to thy sanctified at Jerusalem.
"Lord," answered Ananias, "I have heard about that man from many, and I have heard of the great mischief he has done to Thy people in Jerusalem;
14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name.
and here he is authorized by the High Priests to arrest all who call upon Thy name."
15 But the Lord said to him, Go, because this man is a chosen vessel to me, to bear my name before Gentiles and kings, and sons of Israel.
"Go," replied the Lord; "he is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name to the Gentiles and to kings and to the descendants of Israel.
16 For I will give him a glimpse of how many things it is necessary for him to suffer for my name.
For I will let him know the great sufferings which he must pass through for My sake."
17 And Ananias departed and entered into the house. And having laid hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord, he who appeared to thee on the road on which thou came, has sent me so that thou may receive sight, and be filled of the Holy Spirit.
So Ananias went and entered the house; and, laying his two hands upon Saul, said, "Saul, brother, the Lord--even Jesus who appeared to you on your journey--has sent me, that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 And straightaway there fell from his eyes, like scales, and he looked up. And immediately after rising up, he was immersed.
Instantly there dropped from his eyes what seemed to be scales, and he could see once more. Upon this he rose and received baptism;
19 And having received nourishment, he was strengthened. And Saul became with the disciples in Damascus some days.
after which he took food and regained his strength. Then he remained some little time with the disciples in Damascus.
20 And straightaway he proclaimed the Christ in the synagogues, that this man is the Son of God.
And in the synagogues he began at once to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God;
21 And all those who heard were amazed, and said, Is this not the man who destroyed those in Jerusalem who call on this name? And he has come here for this, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests.
and his hearers were all amazed, and began to ask one another, "Is not this the man who in Jerusalem tried to exterminate those who called upon that Name, and came here on purpose to carry them off in chains to the High Priests?"
22 But Saul was strengthened more, and was confounding the Jews who dwell at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
Saul, however, gained more and more influence, and as for the Jews living in Damascus, he bewildered them with his proofs that Jesus is the Christ.
23 And after considerable days were fulfilled, the Jews plotted to destroy him,
At length the Jews plotted to kill Saul;
24 but their plot was known to Saul. And they watched the gates both day and night so that they might destroy him.
but information of their intention was given to him. They even watched the gates, day and night, in order to murder him;
25 But the disciples, after taking him by night, let him down through the wall, having lowered him in a hamper.
but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a hamper.
26 And when Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to join with the disciples, and they all feared him, not believing that he is a disciple.
So he came to Jerusalem and made several attempts to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, being in doubt as to whether he himself was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas having taken him, he brought him to the apostles. And he related to them how he saw the Lord on the road, and that he spoke to him, and how he spoke boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Barnabas, however, came to his assistance. He brought Saul to the Apostles, and related to them how, on his journey, he had seen the Lord, and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had fearlessly taught in the name of Jesus.
28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem, and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Henceforth Saul was one of them, going in and out of the city,
29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to destroy him.
and speaking fearlessly in the name of the Lord. And he often talked with the Hellenists and had discussions with them.
30 But when the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.
But they kept trying to take his life. On learning this, the brethren brought him down to Caesarea, and then sent him by sea to Tarsus.
31 Indeed therefore the congregations throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified. And, going in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
The Church, however, throughout the whole of Judaea, Galilee and Samaria, had peace and was spiritually built up; and grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and receiving encouragement from the Holy Spirit.
32 And it came to pass, Peter, passing through all parts, to also come down to the sanctified who dwell at Lydda.
Now Peter, as he went to town after town, came down also to God's people at Lud.
33 And he found there a certain man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed, laying on a bed for eight years.
There he found a man of the name of Aeneas, who for eight years had kept his bed, through being paralysed.
34 And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals thee. Arise and make thy bed. And straightaway he arose.
Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you. Rise and make your own bed." He at once rose to his feet.
35 And all those dwelling at Lydda and Sharon who saw him, turned to the Lord.
And all the people of Lud and Sharon saw him; and they turned to the Lord.
36 Now at Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which, being translated, is called Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charities that she did.
Among the disciples at Jaffa was a woman called Tabitha, or, as the name may be translated, 'Dorcas.' Her life was wholly devoted to the good and charitable actions which she was constantly doing.
37 And in those days, having been ill, she happened to die. And after washing her, they laid her in an upper chamber.
But, as it happened, just at that time she was taken ill and died. After washing her body they laid it out in a room upstairs.
38 And since Lydda is near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter is in it, they sent two men to him, exhorting him not to delay to go through to them.
Lud, however, being near Jaffa, the disciples, who had heard that Peter was at Lud, sent two men to him with an urgent request that he would come across to them without delay.
39 And after rising, Peter went with them, whom, after coming, they brought into the upper chamber. And all the widows stood by him weeping, and exhibiting the coats and garments, as many things as Dorcas made being with them.
So Peter rose and went with them. On his arrival they took him upstairs, and the widow women all came and stood by his side, weeping and showing him the underclothing and cloaks and garments of all kinds which Dorcas used to make while she was still with them.
40 But Peter, having sent them all out, having knelt down, he prayed. And having turned to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And the woman opened her eyes. And when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Peter, however, putting every one out of the room, knelt down and prayed, and then turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, rise." Dorcas at once opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, sat up.
41 And having given her a hand, he raised her up. And after calling the sanctified and the widows, he presented her alive.
Then, giving her his hand, he raised her to her feet and, calling to him God's people and the widows, he gave her back to them alive.
42 And it became known throughout the whole of Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
This incident became known throughout Jaffa, and many believed in the Lord;
43 And it came to pass for him to remain considerable days at Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.
and Peter remained for a considerable time at Jaffa, staying at the house of a man called Simon, a tanner.
