Acts 9
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.
Currently Selected:
Acts 9: AMP
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Amplified® Bible
Copyright © 2015 by
The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631
All rights reserved. http://www.lockman.org
Acts 9
9
1But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven: 4and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: 6but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man. 8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.
10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11And the Lord said unto 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 behold, he prayeth; 12and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight. 13But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name. 15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel: 16for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 17And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized; 19and he took food and was strengthened.
And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus. 20And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God. 21And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests. 22But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
23And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him: 24but their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also 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.
26And when he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto 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. 28And he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem, 29preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spake and disputed against the Grecian Jews; but they were seeking to kill him. 30And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Cæsarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31So the church throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.
32And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout all parts, he came down also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda. 33And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had kept his bed eight years; for he was palsied. 34And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise, and make thy bed. And straightway he arose. 35And all that dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. 37And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died: and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber. 38And as Lydda was nigh unto Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men unto him, entreating him, Delay not to come on unto us. 39And Peter arose and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. 40But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and 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 raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42And it became known throughout all Joppa: and many believed on the Lord. 43And it came to pass, that he abode many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in