Acts 9
1 But Saul still breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest, and desired of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus,
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest,
2 that if he should find any of this persuasion, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
and asked him to give him letters to the Jewish congregations at Damascus, authorising him, if he found there any supporters of the Cause, whether men or women, to have them put in chains and brought to Jerusalem.
3 And as he was on his journey, and came near to Damascus, suddenly there shone 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 ground, and heard a voice 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 said, Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus the Nazarene whom thou art persecuting: it is hard for thee to kick against the goads.
“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 wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee, what thou must do.
“Yet stand up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 And the men that went along with him, stood astonished, hearing the voice, but seeing no one.
The men traveling with Saul were meanwhile standing speechless; they heard the sound of the voice, but saw no one.
8 And Saul rose from the earth, but when he opened his eyes he could not see: so they led him by the hand, and brought him to 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 did neither eat nor drink.
and for three days he was unable to see, and took nothing either to eat or to drink.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias, and the Lord said to him 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 Strait, and enquire in the house of Judas for one Saul, of Tarsus:
“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 for behold he is praying, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in and putting his hand upon him, that he might recover 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 And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much mischief he hath done to thy 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 too he hath authority from the chief priests to apprehend all that call upon thy 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 thy way, for he is the instrument I have chosen, 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 shew him how great sufferings he must endure for my name.
I will myself show him all that he has to suffer for my Name.”
17 And Ananias went away and came into the house; and putting his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to thee on the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the holy Spirit."
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 were scales; and he instantly recovered his 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 when he had taken some nourishment, he was strengthened. Now Saul was with the disciples at Damascus for some time.
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 he immediately 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 persecuted those in Jerusalem who called on this name, and came hither for this end, that he might carry them bound to 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 prevailed more and more, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, fully proving that this same Jesus is the Christ.
Saul’s influence, however, kept steadily increasing, and he confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by the proofs that he gave that Jesus was the Christ.
23 And after a considerable time, the Jews conspired to kill him:
After some time the Jews laid a plot to kill Saul,
24 but Saul was apprised of their design. And they watched the gates day and night, to make away with him:
but it became known to him. They even watched the gates day and night, to kill him;
25 but 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 attempted to associate with the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing 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 and brought him to the apostles, and related to 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, and preaching openly in the name of the Lord Jesus:
After that, Saul remained in Jerusalem, in close intercourse with the Apostles; and he spoke fearlessly in the Name of the Lord,
29 and he talked and disputed with the Hellenists, who attempted to kill him:
talking and arguing with the Jews of foreign birth, who, however, made attempts to kill him.
30 but when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.
But, when the Brethren found this out, they took him down to Caesarea, and sent him on his way to Tarsus.
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, had rest, being edified and walking in the fear of the Lord; and through the consolation of the holy Spirit 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 reverence for the Lord and the help of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
32 And it came to pass that as Peter was going through all parts, he came down also to the saints that 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 man named Eneas, who had kept his bed eight years, with the palsy.
There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bed-ridden for eight years with paralysis.
34 And Peter said unto him, Eneas, Jesus the Messiah, healeth thee. Arise, and make thy bed. And he rose up 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 in 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 And there was at Joppa a certain female disciple named Tabitha, who by interpretation is called in Greek Dorcas: and she was full of good works and alms-deeds.
At Jaffa 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 happened, about the same time, that she fell sick and died: and when they had washed her they laid her out 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 as Lydda was near to Joppa, the disciples hearing that Peter was there sent two men to him, intreating him that he would not delay to come to them.
Jaffa was near Lydda, and the disciples, having heard that Peter was at Lydda, sent two men with the request that he would come on to them without delay.
39 Then Peter arose, and went with them: and when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber. And all the widows stood round him weeping, and shewing him the coats and garments which Dorcas made when she was with them.
Peter returned with them at once. On his arrival, he was taken upstairs, and all the widows came round him in tears, showing the coats and other clothing which Dorcas had made while she was among them.
40 But Peter, putting them all out, kneeled down and prayed: and then turning to the body he 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 giving her his hand he raised her up, and calling the saints and widows he 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 soon known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.
This became known all through Jaffa, and numbers of People came to believe in the Lord.
43 And he staid many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.
And Peter stayed some days at Jaffa with a tanner named Simon.
