Acts of Emissaries of Yeshua (Act) 9
9
1Meanwhile, Sha’ul, still breathing murderous threats against the Lord’s talmidim, went to the cohen hagadol 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Dammesek, authorizing him to arrest any people he might find, whether men or women, who belonged to “the Way,” and bring them back to Yerushalayim.
3He was on the road and nearing Dammesek, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed all around him. 4Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Sha’ul! Sha’ul! Why do you keep persecuting me?” 5“Sir, who are you?” he asked. “I am Yeshua, and you are persecuting me. 6But get up, and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do.”
7The men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8They helped Sha’ul get up off the ground; but when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. So, leading him by the hand, they brought him into Dammesek. 9For three days he remained unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.
10There was a talmid in Dammesek, Hananyah by name; and in a vision the Lord said to him, “Hananyah!” He said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to Straight Street, to Y’hudah’s house; and ask for a man from Tarsus named Sha’ul; for he is praying, 12and in a vision he has seen a man named Hananyah coming in and placing his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13But Hananyah answered, “Lord, many have told me about this man, how much harm he has done to your people in Yerushalayim; 14and here he has a warrant from the head cohanim to arrest everyone who calls on your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name to the Goyim, even to their kings, and to the sons of Isra’el as well. 16For I myself will show him how much he will have to suffer on account of my name.”
17So Hananyah left and went into the house. Placing his hands on him, he said, “Brother Sha’ul, the Lord — Yeshua, the one who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here — has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Ruach HaKodesh.” 18In that moment, something like scales fell away from Sha’ul’s eyes; and he could see again. He got up and was immersed; 19then he ate some food and regained his strength.
Sha’ul spent some days with the talmidim in Dammesek, 20and immediately he began proclaiming in the synagogues that Yeshua is the Son of God. 21All who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Isn’t he the man who in Yerushalayim was trying to destroy the people who call on this name? In fact, isn’t that why he came here, to arrest them and bring them back to the head cohanim?” 22But Sha’ul was being filled with more and more power and was creating an uproar among the Jews living in Dammesek with his proofs that Yeshua is the Messiah.
23Quite some time later, the non-believing Jews gathered together and made plans to kill him; 24but their plot became known to Sha’ul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to do away with him; 25but under cover of night, his talmidim took him and let him down over the city wall, lowering him in a large basket.
26On reaching Yerushalayim, he tried to join the talmidim; but they were all afraid of him — they didn’t believe he was a talmid. 27However, Bar-Nabba got hold of him and took him to the emissaries. He told them how Sha’ul had seen the Lord while traveling, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Dammesek Sha’ul had spoken out boldly in the name of Yeshua. 28So he remained with them and went all over Yerushalayim continuing to speak out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He talked and debated with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they began making attempts to kill him. 30When the brothers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
31Then the Messianic community throughout Y’hudah, the Galil and Shomron enjoyed peace and was built up. They lived in the fear of the Lord, with the counsel of the Ruach HaKodesh; and their numbers kept multiplying.
32As Kefa traveled around the countryside, he came down to the believers in Lud. 33There he found a man named Aeneas who had lain bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed. 34Kefa said to him, “Aeneas! Yeshua the Messiah is healing you! Get up, and make your bed!” 35Everyone living in Lud and the Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
Now in Yafo there was a talmidah named Tavita 36(which means “gazelle”); she was always doing tzedakah and other good deeds. 37It happened that just at that time, she took sick and died. After washing her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38Lud is near Yafo, and the talmidim had heard that Kefa was there, so they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39Kefa got up and went with them.
When he arrived, they led him into the upstairs room. All the widows stood by him, sobbing and showing all the dresses and coats Tavita had made them while she was still with them. 40But Kefa put them all outside, kneeled down and prayed. Then, turning to the body, he said, “Tavita! Get up!” She opened her eyes; and on seeing Kefa, she sat up. 41He offered her his hand and helped her to her feet; then, calling the believers and the widows, he presented her to them alive. 42This became known all over Yafo, and many people put their trust in the Lord. 43Kefa stayed on in Yafo for some time with a man named Shim‘on, a leather-tanner.
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Acts of Emissaries of Yeshua (Act) 9: CJB
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9
The Conversion of Saul
1Now #9:1 Later known as Paul the Apostle.Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], went to the #9:1 Probably Caiaphas, the son-in-law of Annas. See note 4:6.high priest, 2and he asked for letters [of authority] from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any men or women there belonging to #9:2 This term for Christianity may have originated from Jesus’ own words, “I am the Way…,” John 14:6.the Way [believers, followers of Jesus the Messiah], men and women alike, he could arrest them and bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem. 3As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ]; 4and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and oppressing Me?” 5And Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7The men who were traveling with him [were terrified and] stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9And he was unable to see for three days, and he neither ate nor drank.
10Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called #9:11 Latin Via Recta, a long, straight street built by the Romans that ran through the city from east to west.Straight, and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul; for he is praying [there], 12and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him, so that he may regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, especially how much suffering and evil he has brought on Your saints (God’s people) at Jerusalem; 14and here [in Damascus] he has authority from the high priests to put in chains all who call on Your name [confessing You as Savior].” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a [deliberately] chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16for I will make clear to him how much he must suffer and endure for My name’s sake.” 17So Ananias left and entered the house, and he laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came [to Damascus], has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit [in order to proclaim Christ to both Jews and Gentiles].” 18Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized; 19and he took some food and was strengthened.
Saul Begins to Preach Christ
For several days [afterward] Saul remained with the disciples who were at Damascus. 20And immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “This Man is the Son of God [the promised Messiah]!” 21All those who heard him continued to be amazed and said, “Is this not the man who in Jerusalem attacked those who called on this name [of Jesus], and had come here [to Damascus] for the express purpose of bringing them bound [with chains] before the chief priests?” 22But Saul increased in strength more and more, and continued to perplex the Jews who lived in Damascus by examining [theological evidence] and proving [with Scripture] that this Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
23After considerable time had passed [about three years or so], the Jews plotted together to kill him, 24but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the city’s gates day and night so they could kill him; 25but his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.
26When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27However, #9:27 This name means Son of Encouragement.Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and described to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road [to Damascus], and how He had spoken to him, and how at Damascus Saul had preached openly and spoken confidently in the name of Jesus. 28So he was with them, moving around freely [as one among them] in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He was talking and arguing with the #9:29 See note 6:1.Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews); but they were attempting to kill him. 30When the brothers found out [about the plot], they brought him down to #9:30 See note 8:40.Caesarea [Maritima] and sent him off to Tarsus [his home town].
31So the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace [without persecution], being built up [in wisdom, virtue, and faith]; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to grow [in numbers].
Peter’s Ministry
32Now as Peter was traveling throughout the land, he went down to [visit] the #9:32 I.e. believers. All Christians are saints, set apart for God’s purpose.saints (God’s people) who lived at Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35Then all who lived at Lydda and the plain of Sharon saw [what had happened to] him, and they turned to the Lord.
36Now in #9:36 A coastal suburb of Tel Aviv, known today as Jaffa.Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, (which translated into Greek means Dorcas). She was rich in acts of kindness and charity which she continually did. 37During that time it happened that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upstairs room. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Come to us without delay.” 39So Peter got up [at once] and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upstairs room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing [him] all the #9:39 Or inner garments.tunics and robes that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40But Peter sent them all out [of the room] and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise!” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41And he gave her his hand and helped her up; and then he called in the #9:41 Or holy ones.saints (God’s people) and the widows, and he presented her [to them] alive. 42This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord [that is, to adhere to and trust in and rely on Jesus as Christ and Savior]. 43And so it was that Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with Simon, #9:43 The Jews considered this occupation “unclean.”a tanner.
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