< Acts 9 >
1 But meanwhile Saul was making violent threats against the disciples of the Lord, wanting to kill them. He went to the high priest
And Saul, yet breathing of threatening and slaughter to the disciples of the LORD, having gone to the chief priest,
2 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.
asked from him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, that if he may find any being of The Way, both men and women, he may bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 As Saul approached Damascus, suddenly he was surrounded by a light that blazed down from heaven.
And in the going, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly there shone around him a light from Heaven,
4 He fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
and having fallen on the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, the one you're persecuting,” he replied.
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And the LORD said, “I am Jesus whom you persecute; [[hard for you to kick at the goads”;
6 “Get up, go on into the city, and you'll be told what to do.”
trembling also, and astonished, he said, “Lord, what do You wish me to do?” And the LORD [said] to him, ]] “Arise, and enter into the city, and it will be told [to] you what you must do.”
7 The men who were traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice speaking, but they didn't see anyone.
And the men who are journeying with him stood speechless, indeed hearing the voice but seeing no one,
8 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.
and Saul arose from the earth, and his eyes having been opened, he beheld no one, and leading him by the hand they brought him to Damascus,
9 For three days he couldn't see, and he didn't eat or drink anything.
and he was three days without seeing, and he neither ate nor drank.
10 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.
And there was a certain disciple in Damascus, by name Ananias, and the LORD said to him in a vision, “Ananias”; and he said, “Behold me, Lord”;
11 “Get up, and go to Straight Street,” the Lord told him. “Ask at Judas' house for someone called Saul, from Tarsus. He's praying.
and the LORD [says] to him, “Having risen, go on to the street that is called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas, [one] by name Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he prays,
12 He's seen in vision a man called Ananias come and place his hands on him so he can regain his sight.”
and he saw in a vision a man, by name Ananias, coming in, and putting a hand on him, that he may see again.”
13 “But Lord,” Ananias replied, “I've heard a lot about this man—about all the evil things he did to the believers in Jerusalem.
And Ananias answered, “LORD, I have heard from many about this man, how many evils he did to Your holy ones in Jerusalem,
14 The chief priests have given him the power to arrest everyone here that worships and follows you.”
and here he has authority from the chief priests, to bind all those calling on Your Name.”
15 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.
And the LORD said to him, “Go, because this one is a chosen vessel to Me, to carry My Name before nations and kings—also the sons of Israel;
16 I will show him what he'll have to suffer for my name's sake.”
for I will show him how many things he must suffer for My Name.”
17 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.”
And Ananias went away, and entered into the house, and having put on him [his] hands, said, “Saul, brother, the LORD has sent me—Jesus who appeared to you in the way in which you were coming—that you may see again, and may be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 Immediately, something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized.
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales, he also saw again instantly, and having risen, was immersed,
19 He also had something to eat and felt stronger. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
and having received nourishment, was strengthened, and Saul was with the disciples in Damascus certain days,
20 He immediately started speaking in the synagogues, saying, “Jesus is the Son of God.”
and immediately he was preaching the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
21 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?”
And all those hearing were amazed and said, “Is this not he who laid waste in Jerusalem those calling on this Name, and here to this intent had come, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
22 Saul grew more and more confident, proving Jesus was the Messiah so convincingly that the Jews who lived in Damascus could not refute him.
And Saul was still more strengthened, and he was confounding the Jews dwelling in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
23 Some time later the Jews plotted together to kill him,
And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him,
24 but Saul learned of their intentions. Day and night they waited by the city gates looking for the chance to murder him.
and their counsel against [him] was known to Saul; they were also watching the gates both day and night, that they may kill him,
25 So during the night his followers took him and lowered him down in a basket from an opening in the city wall.
and the disciples having taken him, by night let him down by the wall, letting down in a basket.
26 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.
And Saul, having come to Jerusalem, tried to join himself to the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he is a disciple,
27 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.
and Barnabas having taken him, brought [him] to the apostles, and declared to them how he saw the LORD in the way, and that He spoke to him, and how in Damascus he was speaking boldly in the Name of Jesus.
28 Saul stayed with the apostles and accompanied them all over Jerusalem,
And he was with them, coming in and going out in Jerusalem,
29 speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to kill him.
and speaking boldly in the Name of the Lord Jesus; he was both speaking and disputing with the Hellenists, and they were taking in hand to kill him,
30 When the brothers learned of this they took him to Caesarea, and sent him to Tarsus.
and the brothers having known, brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 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.
Then, indeed, the assemblies throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, had peace, being built up, and going on in the fear of the LORD, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
32 Peter was traveling around and went to visit the believers who lived in Lydda.
And it came to pass that Peter, passing throughout all [quarters], also came down to the holy ones who were dwelling at Lydda,
33 There he met a man called Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years.
and he found there a certain man, Aeneas by name—for eight years laid on a pallet—who was paralytic,
34 Peter told him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and pick up your mat!” Immediately Aeneas got up.
and Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you; arise and spread for yourself”; and immediately he rose,
35 Everyone living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and became believers in the Lord.
and all those dwelling at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the LORD.
36 In Joppa lived a follower called Tabitha, (Dorcas in Greek). She was always doing good and helping the poor.
And in Joppa there was a certain female disciple, by name Tabitha (which interpreted, is called Dorcas); this woman was full of good works and kind acts that she was doing;
37 However, about this time she became sick, and died. After washing her body, they laid her out in an upstairs room.
and it came to pass in those days she, having ailed, died, and having bathed her, they laid her in an upper chamber,
38 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.”
and Lydda being near to Joppa, the disciples having heard that Peter is in that [place], sent two men to him, calling on him not to delay to come through to them.
39 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.
And Peter having risen, went with them, whom having come, they brought into the upper chamber, and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing coats and garments, as many as Dorcas was making while she was with them.
40 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.
And Peter having put them all forth outside, having bowed the knees, prayed, and having turned to the body, said, “Tabitha, arise”; and she opened her eyes, and having seen Peter, she sat up,
41 He took her by the hand and lifted her up. He called in the believers and the widows, and presented her to them alive.
and having given her [his] hand, he lifted her up, and having called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive,
42 The news spread through the whole of Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
and it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the LORD;
43 Peter spent a long time in Joppa, staying at the house of Simon the tanner.
and it came to pass, that he remained many days in Joppa, with a certain one, Simon a tanner.