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.
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Acts 9
9
Saul Becomes a Follower of Jesus
1In Jerusalem Saul was still trying to scare the followers of the Lord, even saying he would kill them. He went to the high priest 2and asked him to write letters to the synagogues in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted the high priest to give him the authority to find people in Damascus who were followers of the Way. If he found any believers there, men or women, he would arrest them and bring them back to Jerusalem.
3So Saul went to Damascus. When he came near the city, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shined around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
5Saul said, “Who are you, Lord?”
The voice answered, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 6Get up now and go into the city. Someone there will tell you what you must do.”
7The men traveling with Saul just stood there, unable to speak. They heard the voice, but they saw no one. 8Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, but he could not see. So the men with him held his hand and led him into Damascus. 9For three days, Saul could not see; he did not eat or drink.
10There was a follower of Jesus in Damascus named Ananias. In a vision the Lord said to him, “Ananias!”
Ananias answered, “Here I am, Lord.”
11The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight Street. Find the house of Judas#9:11 Judas This is not either of the apostles named Judas. and ask for a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. He is there now, praying. 12He has seen a vision in which a man named Ananias came and laid his hands on him so that he could see again.”
13But Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man. They told me about the many bad things he did to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14Now he has come here to Damascus. The leading priests have given him the power to arrest all people who trust in you.#9:14 who trust in you Literally, “who call on your name,” meaning to show faith in Jesus by worshiping him or praying to him for help.”
15But the Lord Jesus said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen Saul for an important work. I want him to tell other nations, their rulers, and the people of Israel about me. 16I will show him all that he must suffer for me.”
17So Ananias left and went to the house of Judas. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord Jesus sent me. He is the one you saw on the road when you came here. He sent me so that you can see again and also be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Immediately, something that looked like fish scales fell off Saul’s eyes. He was able to see! Then he got up and was baptized. 19After he ate, he began to feel strong again.
Saul Begins to Tell About Jesus
Saul stayed with the followers of Jesus in Damascus for a few days. 20Soon he began to go to the synagogues and tell people about Jesus. He told the people, “Jesus is the Son of God!”
21All the people who heard Saul were amazed. They said, “This is the same man who was in Jerusalem trying to destroy the people who trust in Jesus#9:21 who trust in Jesus Literally, “who call on this name.”! And that’s why he has come here—to arrest the followers of Jesus and take them back to the leading priests.”
22But Saul became more and more powerful in proving that Jesus is the Messiah. His proofs were so strong that the Jews who lived in Damascus could not argue with him.
Saul Escapes From Some Jews
23After many days, some Jews made plans to kill Saul. 24They were watching the city gates day and night. They wanted to kill Saul, but he learned about their plan. 25One night some followers that Saul had taught helped him leave the city. They put him in a basket and lowered it down through a hole in the city wall.
Saul in Jerusalem
26Then Saul went to Jerusalem. He tried to join the group of followers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe that he was really a follower of Jesus. 27But Barnabas accepted Saul and took him to the apostles. He told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. Then he told them how boldly Saul had spoken for the Lord in Damascus.
28And so Saul stayed with the followers and went all around Jerusalem speaking boldly for the Lord. 29He often had arguments with the Greek-speaking Jews, who began making plans to kill him. 30When the believers learned about this, they took Saul to Caesarea, and from there they sent him to the city of Tarsus.
31The church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had a time of peace. And with the help of the Holy Spirit, these groups of believers became stronger in faith and showed their respect for the Lord by the way they lived. So the church everywhere grew in numbers.
Peter in Lydda and Joppa
32Peter was traveling through all the areas around Jerusalem, and he stopped to visit the believers#9:32 believers Literally, “holy ones,” a name for people who believe in Jesus. Also in verse 41. who lived in Lydda. 33There he met a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had not been able to get out of bed for the past eight years. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!” He stood up immediately. 35All the people living in Lydda and on the plain of Sharon saw him, and they decided to follow the Lord.
36In the city of Joppa there was a follower of Jesus named Tabitha. Her Greek name, Dorcas, means “a deer.” She was always doing good things for people and giving money to those in need. 37While Peter was in Lydda, Tabitha became sick and died. They washed her body and put it in an upstairs room. 38The followers in Joppa heard that Peter was in Lydda, which was not far away. So they sent two men, who begged him, “Hurry, please come quickly!”
39Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. All the widows stood around him. They were crying and showing him the coats and other clothes that Tabitha had made during her time with them. 40Peter sent all the people out of the room. He knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to Tabitha’s body and said, “Tabitha, stand up!” She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up. 41He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. Then he called the believers and the widows into the room. He showed them Tabitha; she was alive!
42People everywhere in Joppa learned about this, and many believed in the Lord. 43Peter stayed in Joppa for many days at the home of a man named Simon, who was a leatherworker.
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