Acts 9
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high 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 of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
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 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
While on his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, suddenly a light from the heavens flashed around him.
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecute you me?
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him – “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
5 And he said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute: it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.
“Who are you, Lord?” he asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the voice answered;
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will you have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.
“Yet stand up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, 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 earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led 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 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
and for three days he was unable to see, and took nothing either to eat or to drink.
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, 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 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prays,
“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 has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive 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 have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem:
“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 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on your name.
And, here, too, he holds authority from the chief priests to put in chains all those who invoke your name.”
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear 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 show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
I will myself show him all that he has to suffer for my name.”
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. (pneuma)
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 been scales: and he received sight forthwith, 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 when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days 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 immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
and at once began in the synagogues to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God.
21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came here for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief 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 increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very 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 days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
After some time some of them laid a plot to kill Saul,
24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
but it became known to him. They even watched the gates day and night, to kill him;
25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall 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 Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed 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 took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
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 he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
After that, Saul remained in Jerusalem, in close contact with the apostles; and he spoke fearlessly in the name of the Lord,
29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, 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 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, 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 throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, (pneuma) were multiplied.
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 pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down 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 certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years with paralysis.
34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you whole: arise, and make your bed. 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 saw 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 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and kind acts 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 pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper 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 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to 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 went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats 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 down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
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 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
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 known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
This became known all through Joppa, and numbers of people came to believe in the Lord.
43 And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.
And Peter stayed some days at Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
