Acts 9
9
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and 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. 3As he travelled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. 4He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 He said, “Who are you, Lord?”
The Lord said, “I am Yeshua, whom you are persecuting.#9:5 TR adds “It’s hard for you to kick against the cattle prods.” 6But#9:6 TR omits “But” rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men who travelled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one. 8Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Hananiah. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Hananiah!”
He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”
11 The Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judah#9:11 or, Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, 12and in a vision he has seen a man named Hananiah coming in and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”
13 But Hananiah answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your holy ones at Jerusalem. 14Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your 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. 16For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
17Hananiah 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.” 18Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was immersed. 19He took food and was strengthened.
Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. 20Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Messiah, that he is the Son of God. 21All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t 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!”
22 But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah. 23When many days were fulfilled, the Jews conspired together to kill him, 24but their plot became known to Saul. They watched the gates both day and night that they might kill him, 25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.
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. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the emissaries, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Yeshua. 28He was with them entering into#9:28 TR and NU add “and going out” Jerusalem, 29proclaiming boldly in the name of the Lord Yeshua.#9:29 TR and NU omit “Yeshua” and reverse the order of verses 28 & 29. He spoke and disputed against the Hellenists,#9:29 The Hellenists were Hebrews who used Greek language and culture. but they were seeking to kill him. 30When the brothers#9:30 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.” knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 So the assemblies throughout all Judea, 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.
32 As Peter went throughout all those parts, he came down also to the holy ones who lived at Lydda. 33There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years because he was paralysed. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Yeshua the Messiah heals you. Get up and make your bed!” Immediately he arose. 35All who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tavita, which when translated means Dorcas.#9:36 “Dorcas” is Greek for “Gazelle.” This woman was full of good works and acts of mercy which she did. 37In those days, she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38As Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men#9:38 Reading from NU, TR; MT omits “two men” to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39Peter got up and went with them. When he had come, they brought him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the tunics and other garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40Peter sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tavita, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41He gave her his hand and raised her up. Calling the holy ones and widows, he presented her alive. 42This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43He stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.
Currently Selected:
Acts 9: WMBBE
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
PUBLIC DOMAIN. "World Messianic Bible" is a trademark.
Acts 9
9
The Conversion of Saul
1But Saul, #ver. 13, 21; See ch. 8:3 still #[Ps. 27:12] breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to #ch. 22:5; 26:10the high priest 2and asked him for letters #ch. 22:19; [Luke 12:11; 21:12] to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to #ch. 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22; [ch. 16:17; 18:25, 26; 22:4; Isa. 30:21; 35:8; Amos 8:14]the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3#For ver. 3-8, see ch. 22:6-11; 26:12-18; [1 Cor. 15:8]Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting #[Isa. 63:9; Zech. 2:8]me?” 5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, #[See ver. 4 above]whom you are persecuting. 6But #[Ezek. 3:22; Gal. 1:1] rise and enter the city, and you will be told #ver. 16; [1 Cor. 9:16]what you are to do.” 7#[Dan. 10:7] The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, #[ch. 22:9 with John 12:29]hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, #[ch. 22:11]he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named #ch. 22:12 Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, #Gen. 22:1; Isa. 6:8“Here I am, Lord.” 11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man #ch. 21:39; 22:3of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and #ver. 17; See Mark 5:23lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, #ver. 1, 2 how much evil he has done to #1 Thess. 3:13; 2 Thess. 1:10 your #Rom. 15:25, 26, 31saints at Jerusalem. 14And here he has authority from #ver. 21 the chief priests to bind all who #ch. 22:16; Rom. 10:13; 1 Cor. 1:2; [ch. 7:59; 2 Tim. 2:22]call on your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for #[ch. 13:2; Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:15; Eph. 3:7] he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name #Rom. 1:5 (Gk.); 11:13; 15:16; Gal. 1:16; 2:2, 7-9; Eph. 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 4:17 before the Gentiles and #ch. 25:22, 23; 26:1, 32; 2 Tim. 4:16kings and the children of Israel. 16For #ch. 20:23; 21:4, 11; 1 Thess. 3:3 I will show him how much #ver. 6; [ch. 14:22; 2 Cor. 6:4, 5; 11:23-28] he must suffer #See ch. 5:41for the sake of my name.” 17So #ch. 22:12-14 Ananias departed and entered the house. And #ver. 12 laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and #See ch. 2:4be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and #ch. 22:13 he regained his sight. Then #ch. 22:16he rose and was baptized; 19and #[ver. 9] taking food, he was strengthened.
Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues
For #ch. 26:20some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, #[ver. 22]“He is the Son of God.” 21And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who #ver. 13, 14 made havoc #Gal. 1:13, 23in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22But Saul #See 1 Tim. 1:12 increased all the more in strength, and #ch. 18:28 confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving #[ver. 20]that Jesus was the Christ.
Saul Escapes from Damascus
23 # [Gal. 1:17, 18] When many days had passed, the Jews#9:23 The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time plotted to kill him, 24but their #ch. 20:3, 19; 23:30; [ch. 23:12; 25:3] plot became known to Saul. #2 Cor. 11:32They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25but his disciples took him by night and #2 Cor. 11:33; [Josh. 2:15; 1 Sam. 19:12]let him down through an opening in the wall,#9:25 Greek through the wall lowering him in a basket.
Saul in Jerusalem
26And #ch. 22:17-20; 26:20when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27But #ch. 4:36 Barnabas took him and #[Gal. 1:18, 19] brought him to the apostles and declared to them #ver. 3-6 how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and #ver. 19, 20, 22 how at Damascus he had #See ch. 4:29preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28So he went #ch. 1:21in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29And he spoke and disputed against #See ch. 6:1 the Hellenists.#9:29 That is, Greek-speaking Jews But #[ch. 22:18]they were seeking to kill him. 30And when #See John 21:23 the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off #[ch. 11:25; Gal. 1:21]to Tarsus.
31So #[ch. 8:1; 16:5] the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And #[Neh. 5:9] walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, #ver. 35, 42it multiplied.
The Healing of Aeneas
32Now #[ch. 8:25]as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, #[ch. 3:6]Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35#[ver. 31, 42] And all the residents of Lydda and #1 Chr. 5:16; 27:29; Song 2:1 Sharon saw him, and #ch. 11:21; 2 Cor. 3:16they turned to the Lord.
Dorcas Restored to Life
36Now there was in #See Josh. 19:46 Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.#9:36 The Aramaic name Tabitha and the Greek name Dorcas both mean gazelle She was full of #1 Tim. 2:10good works and acts of charity. 37In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in #ver. 39; ch. 1:13; 20:8an upper room. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, #Num. 22:16 (Heb.; Gk.)“Please come to us without delay.” 39So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to #ver. 37the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics#9:39 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40But Peter #Matt. 9:25 put them all outside, and #See ch. 7:60 knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body #[Mark 5:41; John 11:43]he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42And it became known throughout all Joppa, and #[John 11:45; 12:11]many believed in the Lord. 43And he stayed in Joppa for many days #ch. 10:6with one Simon, a tanner.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Sign up to receive news and updates about the ESV: