Acts 9
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
Now Saul, whose every breath was a threat of destruction for the disciples of the Lord,
2 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.
went to the High Priest and begged from him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, in order that if he found any believers there, either men or women, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.
3 As he traveled, it happened that he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.
But on the journey, as he was getting near Damascus, suddenly there flashed round him a light from Heaven;
4 And he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
and falling to the ground he 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 persecuting.
"Who art thou, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," was the reply.
6 But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
"But rise and go to the city, and you will be told what you are to do.
7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one.
Meanwhile the men who travelled with Saul were standing dumb with amazement, hearing a sound, but seeing no one.
8 Saul arose from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see anything. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
Then he rose from the ground, but when he had opened his eyes, he could not see, and they led him by the arm and brought him to Damascus.
9 He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.
And for two days he remained without sight, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Look, it's me, Lord."
Now in Damascus there was a disciple of the name of Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" "I am here, Lord," he answered.
11 The Lord said to him, "Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For look, he is praying,
"Rise," said the Lord, "and go to Straight Street, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man called Saul, from Tarsus, for he is actually praying.
12 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."
He has seen a man called Ananias come and lay his hands upon him so that he may recover his sight."
13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.
"Lord," answered Ananias, "I have heard about that man from many, and I have heard of the great mischief he has done to Thy people in Jerusalem;
14 Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name."
and here he is authorized by the High Priests to arrest all who call upon Thy name."
15 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.
"Go," replied the Lord; "he is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name to the Gentiles and to kings and to the descendants of Israel.
16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake."
For I will let him know the great sufferings which he must pass through for My sake."
17 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."
So Ananias went and entered the house; and, laying his two hands upon Saul, said, "Saul, brother, the Lord--even Jesus who appeared to you on your journey--has sent me, that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.
Instantly there dropped from his eyes what seemed to be scales, and he could see once more. Upon this he rose and received baptism;
19 He took food and was strengthened. He stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
after which he took food and regained his strength. Then he remained some little time with the disciples in Damascus.
20 Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.
And in the synagogues he began at once to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God;
21 All who heard him were amazed, and said, "Is not 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."
and his hearers were all amazed, and began to ask one another, "Is not this the man who in Jerusalem tried to exterminate those who called upon that Name, and came here on purpose to carry them off in chains to the High Priests?"
22 But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
Saul, however, gained more and more influence, and as for the Jews living in Damascus, he bewildered them with his proofs that Jesus is the Christ.
23 When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him,
At length the Jews plotted to kill Saul;
24 but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him,
but information of their intention was given to him. They even watched the gates, day and night, in order to murder him;
25 but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a hamper.
26 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.
So he came to Jerusalem and made several attempts to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, being in doubt as to whether he himself was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
Barnabas, however, came to his assistance. He brought Saul to the Apostles, and related to them how, on his journey, he had seen the Lord, and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had fearlessly taught in the name of Jesus.
28 He was with them coming in and going out in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
Henceforth Saul was one of them, going in and out of the city,
29 He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists, but they were seeking to kill him.
and speaking fearlessly in the name of the Lord. And he often talked with the Hellenists and had discussions with them.
30 When the brothers knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus.
But they kept trying to take his life. On learning this, the brethren brought him down to Caesarea, and then sent him by sea to Tarsus.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and 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.
The Church, however, throughout the whole of Judaea, Galilee and Samaria, had peace and was spiritually built up; and grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and receiving encouragement from the Holy Spirit.
32 It happened, as Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda.
Now Peter, as he went to town after town, came down also to God's people at Lud.
33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed.
There he found a man of the name of Aeneas, who for eight years had kept his bed, through being paralysed.
34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed." Immediately he arose.
Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you. Rise and make your own bed." He at once rose to his feet.
35 All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
And all the people of Lud and Sharon saw him; and they turned to the Lord.
36 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.
Among the disciples at Jaffa was a woman called Tabitha, or, as the name may be translated, 'Dorcas.' Her life was wholly devoted to the good and charitable actions which she was constantly doing.
37 It happened in those days that she fell sick, and died. When they had washed her, they placed her in an upper chamber.
But, as it happened, just at that time she was taken ill and died. After washing her body they laid it out in a room upstairs.
38 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 us.
Lud, however, being near Jaffa, the disciples, who had heard that Peter was at Lud, sent two men to him with an urgent request that he would come across to them without delay.
39 Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper chamber. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
So Peter rose and went with them. On his arrival they took him upstairs, and the widow women all came and stood by his side, weeping and showing him the underclothing and cloaks and garments of all kinds which Dorcas used to make while she was still with them.
40 Peter put them all out, and kneeled down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
Peter, however, putting every one out of the room, knelt down and prayed, and then turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, rise." Dorcas at once opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, sat up.
41 He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
Then, giving her his hand, he raised her to her feet and, calling to him God's people and the widows, he gave her back to them alive.
42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
This incident became known throughout Jaffa, and many believed in the Lord;
43 It happened, that he stayed many days in Joppa with one Simon, a tanner.
and Peter remained for a considerable time at Jaffa, staying at the house of a man called Simon, a tanner.
