Acts 9
1 And Saul yet breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of ye Lord, went vnto the hie Priest,
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the Synagogues, that if he found any that were of that way (either men or women) hee might bring them bound vnto Hierusalem.
and asked him to give him letters to the Jewish congregations at Damascus, authorizing him, if he found there any supporters of the Way, whether men or women, to have them put in chains and brought to Jerusalem.
3 Now as he iourneyed, it came to passe that as he was come neere to Damascus, suddenly there shined rounde about him a light from heauen.
While on his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, suddenly a light from the heavens flashed around him.
4 And hee fell to the earth, and heard a voyce, saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him – “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
5 And he sayd, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord sayd, I am Iesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kicke against pricks.
“Who are you, Lord?” he asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the voice answered;
6 He then both trembling and astonied, sayd, Lord, what wilt thou that I doe? And the Lord sayd vnto him, Arise and goe into the citie, and it shall be tolde thee what thou shalt doe.
“Yet stand up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men also which iourneyed with him, stood amased, hearing his voyce, but seeing no man.
The men traveling with Saul were meanwhile standing speechless; they heard the sound of the voice, but saw no one.
8 And Saul arose from the ground, and opened his eyes, but sawe no man. Then led they him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus,
When Saul got up from the ground, though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So his men led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus;
9 Where he was three dayes without sight, and neither ate nor dranke.
and for three days he was unable to see, and took nothing either to eat or to drink.
10 And there was a certaine disciple at Damascus named Ananias, and to him sayd the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he sayd, Beholde, I am here Lord.
Now there was at Damascus a disciple named Ananias, to whom, in a vision, the Lord said, “Ananias.” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 Then the Lord sayd vnto him, Arise, and goe into the streete which is called Straight, and seeke in the house of Iudas after one called Saul of Tarsus: for beholde, he prayeth.
“Go at once,” said the Lord, “to the Straight Street, and ask at Judas’s house for a man named Saul, from Tarsus. He is at this moment praying,
12 (And he sawe in a vision a man named Ananias comming in to him, and putting his hands on him, that he might receiue his sight.)
and he has seen, in a vision, a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him, so that he may recover his sight.”
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I haue heard by many of this man, howe much euill hee hath done to thy saints at Hierusalem.
“Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I have heard from many people about this man – how much harm he has done at Jerusalem to your people there.
14 Moreouer here hee hath authoritie of the hie Priestes, to binde all that call on thy Name.
And, here, too, he holds authority from the chief priests to put in chains all those who invoke your name.”
15 Then the Lord said vnto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessell vnto me, to beare my Name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the children of Israel.
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to uphold my name before the Gentiles and their kings, and the people of Israel.
16 For I will shewe him, howe many things he must suffer for my Names sake.
I will myself show him all that he has to suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went his way, and entred into that house, and put his hands on him, and sayd, Brother Saul, the Lord hath sent me (euen Iesus that appeared vnto thee in the way as thou camest) that thou mightest receiue thy sight, and be filled with the holy Ghost.
So Ananias went, entered the house, and, placing his hands on Saul, said, “Saul, my brother, I have been sent by the Lord – by Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here – so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had bene scales, and suddenly he receiued sight, and arose, and was baptized,
Instantly it seemed as if a film fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized,
19 And receiued meate, and was strengthened. So was Saul certaine dayes with the disciples which were at Damascus.
and, after he had taken food, he felt his strength return. Saul stayed for some days with the disciples who were at Damascus,
20 And straightway hee preached Christ in the Synagogues, that he was that Sonne of God,
and at once began in the synagogues to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God.
21 So that all that heard him, were amased, and sayde, Is not this hee, that made hauocke of them which called on this Name in Hierusalem, and came hither for that intent, that hee should bring them bound vnto the hie Priests?
All who heard him were amazed. “Is not this,” they asked, “the man who worked havoc in Jerusalem among those that invoke this name, and who had also come here for the express purpose of having such persons put in chains and taken before the chief priests?”
22 But Saul encreased the more in strength, and confounded the Iewes which dwelt at Damascus, confirming, that this was that Christ.
Saul’s influence, however, kept steadily increasing, and he confounded the Jewish people who lived in Damascus by the proofs that he gave that Jesus was the Christ.
23 And after that many dayes were fulfilled, the Iewes tooke counsell together, to kill him,
After some time some of them laid a plot to kill Saul,
24 But their laying awayte was knowen of Saul: nowe they watched the gates day and night, that they might kill him.
but it became known to him. They even watched the gates day and night, to kill him;
25 Then the disciples tooke him by night, and put him through the wall, and let him downe by a rope in a basket.
but his disciples let him down by night through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 And when Saul was come to Hierusalem, he assayed to ioyne himselfe with the disciples: but they were all afrayd of him, and beleeued not that he was a disciple.
On his arrival in Jerusalem, Saul attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, as they did not believe that he was really a disciple.
27 But Barnabas tooke him, and brought him to the Apostles, and declared to them, howe hee had seene the Lord in the way, and that hee had spoken vnto him, and how he had spoken boldly at Damascus in the Name of Iesus.
Barnabas, however, taking him by the hand, brought him to the apostles, and told them the whole story of how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord, and how the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
28 And hee was conuersant with them at Hierusalem,
After that, Saul remained in Jerusalem, in close contact with the apostles; and he spoke fearlessly in the name of the Lord,
29 And spake boldly in the Name of the Lord Iesus, and spake and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
talking and arguing with the Jews of foreign birth, who, however, made attempts to kill him.
30 But when the brethren knewe it, they brought him to Cesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
But, when the followers found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and sent him on his way to Tarsus.
31 Then had the Churches rest through all Iudea, and Galile, and Samaria, and were edified and walked in the feare of the Lord, and were multiplied by the comfort of the holy Ghost.
And so it came about that the church, throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, enjoyed peace and became firmly established; and, ordering its life by respect for the Lord and the help of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
32 And it came to passe, as Peter walked throughout all quarters, hee came also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
Peter, while traveling from place to place throughout the country, went down to visit the people of Christ living at Lydda.
33 And there he found a certaine man named Aeneas, which had kept his couch eight yeeres, and was sicke of the palsie.
There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years with paralysis.
34 Then said Peter vnto him, Aeneas, Iesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise and trusse thy couch together. And he arose immediately.
“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ cures you. Get up, and make your bed.” Aeneas got up at once;
35 And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron, sawe him, and turned to the Lord.
and all the inhabitants of Lydda and of the Plain of Sharon saw him, and came over to the Lord’s side.
36 There was also at Ioppa a certaine woman, a disciple named Tabitha (which by interpretation is called Dorcas) she was full of good workes and almes which she did.
At Joppa there lived a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which is in Greek ‘Dorcas’ – a Gazelle. Her life was spent in doing kind and charitable actions.
37 And it came to passe in those dayes, that she was sicke and dyed: and when they had washed her, they layd her in an vpper chamber.
Just at that time she was taken ill, and died; and they had washed her body and laid it out in an upstairs room.
38 Now forasmuch as Lydda was neere to Ioppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent vnto him two men, desiring that he would not delay to come vnto them.
Joppa was near Lydda, and the disciples, having heard that Peter was at Lydda, sent two men with the request that he come to them without delay.
39 Then Peter arose and came with them: and when hee was come, they brought him into the vpper chamber, where all the widowes stoode by him weeping, and shewing the coates and garments, which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
Peter returned with them at once. On his arrival, he was taken upstairs, and all the widows came around him in tears, showing the coats and other clothing which Dorcas had made while she was among them.
40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled downe, and prayed, and turned him to the body, and sayd, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and when she sawe Peter, sate vp.
But Peter sent everybody out of the room, and knelt down and prayed. Then, turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha! Stand up.” She opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, sat up.
41 Then he gaue her the hand and lift her vp, and called the Saints and widowes, and restored her aliue.
Giving her his hand, Peter raised her up, and, calling in the widows and others of Christ’s people, presented her to them alive.
42 And it was knowen throughout all Ioppa, and many beleeued in the Lord.
This became known all through Joppa, and numbers of people came to believe in the Lord.
43 And it came to passe that he taried many dayes in Ioppa with one Simon a Tanner.
And Peter stayed some days at Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
