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
But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high 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.
and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 As Saul approached Damascus, suddenly he was surrounded by a light that blazed down from heaven.
As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.
4 He fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
He fell on the earth, and 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.
He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
6 “Get up, go on into the city, and you'll be told what to do.”
But rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told 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.
The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, 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.
Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9 For three days he couldn't see, and he didn't eat or drink anything.
He was without sight for three days, and 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.
Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Behold, it’s 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.
The Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,
12 He's seen in vision a man called Ananias come and place his hands on him so he can regain his sight.”
and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”
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.
But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.
14 The chief priests have given him the power to arrest everyone here that worships and follows you.”
Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call 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.
But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children 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’s sake.”
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.”
Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and 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.
Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.
19 He also had something to eat and felt stronger. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
20 He immediately started speaking in the synagogues, saying, “Jesus is the Son of God.”
Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, 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?”
All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before 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.
But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
23 Some time later the Jews plotted together to kill him,
When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired 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.
but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might 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.
but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him 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.
When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was 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.
But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
28 Saul stayed with the apostles and accompanied them all over Jerusalem,
He was with them entering into 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.
preaching boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him.
30 When the brothers learned of this they took him to Caesarea, and sent him to Tarsus.
When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off 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.
So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
32 Peter was traveling around and went to visit the believers who lived in Lydda.
As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
33 There he met a man called Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years.
There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralyzed.
34 Peter told him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and pick up your mat!” Immediately Aeneas got up.
Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose.
35 Everyone living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and became believers in the Lord.
All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 In Joppa lived a follower called Tabitha, (Dorcas in Greek). She was always doing good and helping the poor.
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which when translated means Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did.
37 However, about this time she became sick, and died. After washing her body, they laid her out in an upstairs room.
In those days, she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
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.”
As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming 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.
Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the tunics and other garments which Dorcas had made 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.
Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw 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.
He gave her his hand and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42 The news spread through the whole of Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
43 Peter spent a long time in Joppa, staying at the house of Simon the tanner.
He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
