Acts 9
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest
But meanwhile Saul was making violent threats against the disciples of the Lord, wanting to kill them. He went to 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.
and asked for letters of authorization to take with him to the synagogues in Damascus, giving him permission to arrest any believers in the Way that he found, men or women, and bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners.
3 As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
As Saul approached Damascus, suddenly he was surrounded by a light that blazed down from heaven.
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
He fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
5 “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, the one you're persecuting,” he replied.
6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
“Get up, go on into the city, and you'll be told what to do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone.
The men who were traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice speaking, but they didn't 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.
Saul got to his feet, and when he opened his eyes, he couldn't see anything. His companions took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.
9 For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.
For three days he couldn't see, and he didn't 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.
A follower of Jesus called Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. “Ananias!” he called. “I'm here, Lord,” Ananias responded.
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.
“Get up, and go to Straight Street,” the Lord told him. “Ask at Judas' house for someone called Saul, from Tarsus. He's praying.
12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
He's seen in vision a man called Ananias come and place his hands on him so he can regain 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.
“But Lord,” Ananias replied, “I've heard a lot about this man—about all the evil things he did to the believers in Jerusalem.
14 And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”
The chief priests have given him the power to arrest everyone here that worships and follows you.”
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.
But the Lord told him, “Get on your way, because he is the person I have chosen to take my name to foreigners and kings, as well as to Israel.
16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
I will show him what he'll have to suffer for my name's sake.”
17 So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, 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.”
So Ananias left and went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “The Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were traveling here, has sent me so you can regain your sight 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,
Immediately, something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized.
19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
He also had something to eat and felt stronger. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
20 Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
He immediately started speaking in the synagogues, saying, “Jesus 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?”
All who heard him were amazed, and asked, “Isn't this the man who caused so much trouble in Jerusalem for those who believed in Jesus? Wasn't he coming here to have the believers arrested and taken in chains 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.
Saul grew more and more confident, proving Jesus was the Messiah so convincingly that the Jews who lived in Damascus could not refute him.
23 After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him,
Some time later the Jews plotted together to kill him,
24 but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.
but Saul learned of their intentions. Day and night they waited by the city gates looking for the chance to murder him.
25 One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.
So during the night his followers took him and lowered him down in a basket from an opening in the city 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.
When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him because they were not convinced he was really a disciple.
27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who spoke to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.
However, Barnabas took him to meet the apostles, and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. Barnabas also explained how in Damascus Saul had spoken boldly 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.
Saul stayed with the apostles and accompanied them all over Jerusalem,
29 He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.
speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Greek-speaking 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.
When the brothers learned of this they took him to Caesarea, and sent him to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
During this time the whole church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was left in peace. The church grew strong and increased rapidly in numbers as the believers lived reverently for the Lord, encouraged by the Holy Spirit.
32 As Peter traveled throughout the area, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.
Peter was traveling around and went to visit the believers who lived in Lydda.
33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.
There he met a man called Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years.
34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,
Peter told him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and pick up your mat!” Immediately Aeneas got up.
35 and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
Everyone living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and became believers in 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.
In Joppa lived a follower called Tabitha, (Dorcas in Greek). She was always doing good and helping the poor.
37 At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.
However, about this time she became sick, and died. After washing her body, they laid her out in an upstairs room.
38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”
Lydda was near Joppa, so the disciples in Joppa, hearing that Peter was in Lydda, sent two men to him with the message, “Please come to us right away.”
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.
So Peter got ready and left with them. When he arrived they took him upstairs. All the widows were there crying, and they showed him the coats and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was 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.
Peter told them all to leave, kneeled down, and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and when she saw 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.
He took her by the hand and lifted her up. He called in the believers and the widows, and presented her to them alive.
42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
The news spread through the whole of Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43 And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
Peter spent a long time in Joppa, staying at the house of Simon the tanner.
