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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The Acts 9
9
1But Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest 2and asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues, so that if he found any who were of the way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3But as he was journeying, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus; and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven, 4and falling on the earth he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? 5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. 6But rise up and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7But the men who were travelling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but beholding no one. 8And Saul rose up from the earth, and his eyes being opened he saw no one. But leading him by the hand they brought him into Damascus. 9And he was three days without seeing, and neither ate nor drank.
10And there was a certain disciple in Damascus by name Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, here am I, Lord. 11And the Lord said to him, Rise up and go into the street which is called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas one by name Saul, he is of Tarsus: for, behold, he is praying, 12and has seen in a vision a man by name Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he should see. 13And Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many concerning this man how much evil he has done to thy saints at Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon thy name. 15And the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is an elect vessel to me, to bear my name before both nations and kings and the sons of Israel: 16for I will shew to him how much he must suffer for my name. 17And Ananias went and entered into the house; and laying his hands upon him he said, Saul, brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus that appeared to thee in the way in which thou camest, that thou mightest see, and be filled with theHoly Spirit. 18And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he saw, and rising up was baptised; 19and, having received food, got strength. And he was with the disciples who were in Damascus certain days. 20And straightway in the synagogues he preached Jesus that he is the Son of God. 21And all who heard were astonished and said, Is not this he who destroyed in Jerusalem those who called on this name, and here was come for this purpose, that he might bring them bound to the chief priests? 22But Saul increased the more in power, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
23Now when many days were fulfilled, the Jews consulted together to kill him. 24But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched also the gates both day and night, that they might kill him; 25but the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket. 26And having arrived at Jerusalem he essayed to join himself to the disciples, and all were afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him 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 in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. 28And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem, 29and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and discussed with the Hellenists; but they sought to kill him. 30And the brethren knowing it, brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. 31The assemblies then throughout the whole of Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified and walking in the fear of the Lord, and were increased through the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
32Now it came to pass that Peter, passing through all quarters, descended also to the saints who inhabited Lydda. 33And he found there a certain man, Aeneas by name, who had been lying for eight years upon a couch, who was paralysed. 34And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus, the Christ, heals thee: rise up, and make thy couch for thyself. And straightway he rose up. 35And all who inhabited Lydda and the Saron saw him, who turned to the Lord.
36And in Joppa there was a certain female disciple, by name Tabitha, which being interpreted means Dorcas. She was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did. 37And it came to pass in those days that she grew sick and died; and, having washed her, they put her in the upper room. 38But Lydda being near to Joppa, the disciples having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, beseeching him, Thou must not delay coming to us. 39And Peter rising up went with them, whom, when arrived, they brought up into the upper chamber; and all the widows stood by him weeping and shewing him the body-coats and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40But Peter, putting them all out, and kneeling down, prayed. And, turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and, seeing Peter, sat up. 41And having given her his hand, he raised her up, and having called the saints and the widows, presented her living. 42And it became known throughout the whole of Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. 43And it came to pass that he remained many days in Joppa with a certain Simon, a tanner.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.