Acts 9
1 But Saul, still burning with desire to put to death the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2 And made a request for letters from him to the Synagogues of Damascus, so that if there were any of the Way there, men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
and begged of him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any that were of the Way, either men or women, he could bind them and bring them to Jerusalem.
3 And while he was journeying, he came near Damascus; and suddenly he saw a light from heaven shining round him;
And as he journeyed, when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him.
4 And he went down on the earth, and a voice said to him, Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me so cruelly?
He fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
5 And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are attacking:
And he said, "Who are you Lord?"
6 But get up, and go into the town, and it will be made clear to you what you have to do.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he said. "Stand up and go into the city, and there you shall be told what you must do."
7 And the men who were with him were not able to say anything; hearing the voice, but seeing no one.
Meanwhile the men who were his fellow travelers stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one.
8 And Saul got up from the earth, and when his eyes were open, he saw nothing; and he was guided by the hand into Damascus.
And Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he continued to perceive nothing; so they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.
9 And for three days he was not able to see, and he took no food or drink.
And he remained there three days, seeing nothing, and without eating or drinking.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias! and he said, Here I am, Lord.
Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Lo, I am here, Lord."
11 And the Lord said to him, Get up, and go to the street which is named Straight, and make search at the house of Judas for one named Saul of Tarsus: for he is at prayer;
And the Lord said to him. "Arise, go into the street named ‘Straight,’ and make inquiries in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus, one Saul.
12 And he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands on him, so that he may be able to see.
He is now praying, and has seen a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him to restore his sight."
13 But Ananias said, Lord, I have had accounts of this man from a number of people, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem:
"But, Lord," said Ananias, "I have heard from many about that man, and how much evil he did to the saints at Jerusalem!
14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to make prisoners all who give worship to your name.
"In this city, too, he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all those who call upon thy name."
15 But the Lord said, Go without fear: for he is a special vessel for me, to give to the Gentiles and kings and to the children of Israel the knowledge of my name:
"Go," answered the Lord, "this man is chosen instrument of mine to bear my name before the nations and their kings, and before the Children of Israel also;
16 For I will make clear to him what troubles he will have to undergo for me.
"for I am going to show him all he has to suffer for the sake of my name."
17 And Ananias went out and came to the house, and putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, whom you saw when you were on your journey, has sent me, so that you may be able to see, and be full of the Holy Spirit.
And so Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, has sent me that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 And straight away it seemed as if a veil was taken from his eyes, and he was able to see; and he got up, and had baptism;
Instantly something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.
19 And when he had taken food his strength came back. And for some days he kept with the disciples who were in Damascus.
Afterward he took food and was strengthened. And he remained for some time with the disciples at Damascus.
20 And straight away, in the Synagogues, he was preaching Jesus as the Son of God.
And he began at once to proclaim in the synagogues Jesus as the Son of God.
21 And all those hearing him were full of wonder and said, Is not this the man who in Jerusalem was attacking all the worshippers of this name? and he had come here so that he might take them as prisoners before the chief priests.
His hearers were all astonished, and began to say. "Is not this the very man who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called upon the Name? Did he not come hither for the express purpose of carrying them all in chains to the high priests?"
22 But Saul went on increasing in power, and the Jews in Damascus were not able to give answers to the arguments by which he made it clear that Jesus was the Christ.
But Saul gained more and more influence, and kept putting the Jews who lived in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ.
23 Then, after some days, the Jews made an agreement together to put him to death:
And when many days were fulfilled the Jews made a plot to kill Saul;
24 But Saul got knowledge of their design. And they kept watch day and night on the roads out of the town, so that they might put him to death:
but information of their plot was given Saul, and although they kept watch day and night on the gates, in order to make away with him,
25 But his disciples took him by night and let him down from the wall in a basket.
his disciples took him by night, and let him down over the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 And when he came to Jerusalem, he made an attempt to be joined to the disciples, but they were all in fear of him, not taking him for a disciple.
So he came to Jerusalem, and attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him to the Apostles and gave them an account of how he had seen the Lord on the road, and had given hearing to his words, and how at Damascus he had been preaching in the name of Jesus without fear.
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and told them how Saul had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him; and also how he had preached the Name of the Lord Jesus boldly at Damascus.
28 And he was with them, going in and out at Jerusalem,
Henceforth Saul was one of them, going in and out of the city, and speaking fearlessly in the Name of the Lord.
29 Preaching in the name of the Lord without fear; and he had discussions with the Greek Jews; but they were working for his death.
He also used to hold conversations and debates with the Grecian Jews, but they kept trying to kill him.
30 And when the brothers had knowledge of it, they took him to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.
When they learned this the brothers took him down to Caesarea, and then sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 And so the church through all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was made strong; and, living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was increased greatly.
Now throughout the whole of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria the Church continued to enjoy peace and to be spiritually built up. It was increasing in members also, as it kept walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
32 And it came about that while Peter was going through all parts of the country he came to the saints who were living at Lydda.
Now Peter, as he was going from town to town, came down also to the saints who lived in Lydda.
33 And there was a certain man there, named Aeneas, who for eight years had been in bed, without power of moving.
Here he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, a paralytic.
34 And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you well: get up and make your bed. And straight away he got up.
Peter said to him. "Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you! Rise and make your own bed!"
35 And all those living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and were turned to the Lord.
At once he rose to his feet. All the people of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, that is, Dorcas: this woman was given to good works and acts of mercy at all times.
Among the disciples at Joppa was a woman named Tabitha - which may be translated Dorcas or "Gazelle" - a woman whose life was full of good works and almsgiving, which she was doing continually.
37 And it came about, in those days, that she got ill and came to her death: and when she had been washed, they put her in a room which was high up.
She, as it happened, was taken ill just at that time, and died. After washing her body, they laid it in an upper room.
38 And because Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having knowledge that Peter was there, sent two men to him, requesting him to come to them straight away.
And as Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, when they heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the entreaty, "Delay not to come to us."
39 And Peter went with them. And when he had come, they took him into the room: and all the widows were there, weeping and putting before him the coats and clothing which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
So Peter arose and went with them. On his arrival they took him up- stairs, and all the widows stood near him, weeping, and showing him the cloaks and garments which Dorcas used to make, while she was still with them.
40 But Peter made them all go outside, and went down on his knees in prayer; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, get up. And, opening her eyes, she saw Peter and got up.
But Peter put them all out, and kneeled down, and prayed; and then turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, rise!" She opened her eyes, and on seeing Peter she sat up.
41 And he took her hand, lifting her up; and, sending for the saints and widows, he gave her to them, living.
Then he gave her his hand and raised her up, and after calling the saints and the widows, he gave her back to them alive.
42 And news of it went all through Joppa, and a number of people had faith in the Lord.
This incident became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43 And he was living in Joppa for some time with Simon, a leather-worker.
Peter stayed for some time in Joppa, lodging in the house of Simon, the tanner.
