Acts 9
1 But Saul, still speaking threats even of murder 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 him for letters for the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to 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 was traveling, it happened that as he came near to Damascus, suddenly there shone all around him a light out of heaven;
But on the journey, as he was getting near Damascus, suddenly there flashed round him a light from Heaven;
4 and he fell upon the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
and falling to the ground he heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
5 Saul replied, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord 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, enter into the city, and it will be told you 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 Saul stood speechless, hearing the voice, 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, and when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing; so 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 For three days he was without sight, and he neither ate nor drank.
And for two days he remained without sight, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “See, I am here, 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 at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for 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 He has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, so that he might see again.”
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 harm he has done to your holy people in 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 He has authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone here who calls upon 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, for he is a chosen instrument of mine, to carry my name before the Gentiles 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 much he must suffer for the cause of my name.”
For I will let him know the great sufferings which he must pass through for My sake."
17 So Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road when you were coming, has sent me so that you might 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 Saul's 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 and he ate and was strengthened. He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days.
after which he took food and regained his strength. Then he remained some little time with the disciples in Damascus.
20 Right away he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying 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 the man who destroyed those in Jerusalem who called on this name? He has come here to take them bound to 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 became more and more powerful, and he was causing distress among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus 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 After many days, the Jews planned together to kill him.
At length the Jews plotted to kill Saul;
24 But their plan became known to Saul. They watched the gates day and night in order to 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 he had come to Jerusalem, Saul attempted to join 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 he told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how at Damascus Saul had spoken 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 met with them as they were coming in and going out of Jerusalem. He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus
Henceforth Saul was one of them, going in and out of the city,
29 and debated with the Grecian Jews; but they kept trying 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 learned of this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away 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 then, the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the church grew in numbers.
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 Now it came about that, as Peter went throughout the whole region, he came down also to the believers who lived in the town of 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 in his bed for eight years, for 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,” and right away he got up.
Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you. Rise and make your own bed." He at once rose to his feet.
35 So everyone who lived in Lydda and in Sharon saw the man 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 in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated as “Dorcas.” This woman was full of good works and merciful deeds that she did for the poor.
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 came about in those days that she fell sick and died; when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
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 Since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, begging him, “Come to us without delay.”
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 arose and went with them. When he had arrived, they brought him to the upper room, and all the widows stood by him weeping, showing him the coats and garments that Dorcas had made while she had been 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 of the room, knelt down, and prayed; then, turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing 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 Peter then gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he called the believers and the widows, he presented her alive to them.
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 This matter became known throughout all Joppa, and many people believed on the Lord.
This incident became known throughout Jaffa, and many believed in the Lord;
43 It happened that Peter stayed for many days in Joppa with a man named Simon, a tanner.
and Peter remained for a considerable time at Jaffa, staying at the house of a man called Simon, a tanner.
