Acts 9
9
Saul becomes a follower of the Lord
(Acts 22.6-16; 26.12-18)
1Saul kept on threatening to kill the Lord's followers. He even went to the high priest 2and asked for letters to the Jewish leaders in Damascus. He did this because he wanted to arrest and take to Jerusalem any man or woman who had accepted the Lord's Way.#9.2 accepted the Lord's Way: In the book of Acts, this means to become a follower of the Lord Jesus. 3When Saul had almost reached Damascus, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice that said, “Saul! Saul! Why are you so cruel to me?”
5“Who are you?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus,” the Lord answered. “I am the one you are so cruel to. 6Now get up and go into the city, where you will be told what to do.”
7The men with Saul stood there speechless. They had heard the voice, but they had not seen anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could not see a thing. Someone then led him by the hand to Damascus, 9and for three days he was blind and did not eat or drink.
10A follower named Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. Ananias answered, “Lord, here I am.”
11The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the house of Judas in Straight Street. When you get there, you will find a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. Saul is praying, 12and he has seen a vision. He saw a man named Ananias coming to him and putting his hands on him, so that he could see again.”
13Ananias replied, “Lord, a lot of people have told me about the terrible things this man has done to your followers in Jerusalem. 14Now the chief priests have given him the power to come here and arrest anyone who worships in your name.”
15The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for worshipping in my name.”
17Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, “Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road. He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see. He got up and was baptized. 19Then he ate and felt much better.
Saul preaches in Damascus
For several days Saul stayed with the Lord's followers in Damascus. 20Soon he went to the Jewish meeting places and started telling people that Jesus is the Son of God. 21Everyone who heard Saul was amazed and said, “Isn't this the man who caused so much trouble for those people in Jerusalem who worship in the name of Jesus? Didn't he come here to arrest them and take them to the chief priests?”
22Saul preached with such power that he completely confused the Jewish people in Damascus, as he tried to show them that Jesus is the Messiah.
23Later some of them made plans to kill Saul,#2 Co 11.32,33. 24but he found out about it. He learnt that they were guarding the gates of the city day and night in order to kill him. 25Then one night his followers let him down over the city wall in a large basket.
Saul in Jerusalem
26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the followers. But they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe he was a true follower. 27Then Barnabas helped him by taking him to the apostles. He explained how Saul had seen the Lord and how the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas also said that when Saul was in Damascus, he had spoken bravely in the name of Jesus.
28Saul moved about freely with the followers in Jerusalem and told everyone about the Lord. 29He was always arguing with the Jews who spoke Greek, and so they tried to kill him. 30But the followers found out about this and took Saul to Caesarea. From there they sent him to the city of Tarsus.
31The church in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria now had a time of peace and kept on worshipping the Lord. The church became stronger, as the Holy Spirit encouraged it and helped it grow.
Peter heals Aeneas
32While Peter was travelling from place to place, he visited the Lord's followers who lived in the town of Lydda. 33There he met a man named Aeneas, who for eight years had been sick in bed and could not move. 34Peter said to Aeneas, “Jesus Christ has healed you! Get up and make up your bed.”#9.34 and make up your bed: Or “and prepare something to eat.” Straight away he stood up.
35Many people in the towns of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas and became followers of the Lord.
Peter brings Dorcas back to life
36In Joppa there was a follower named Tabitha. Her Greek name was Dorcas, which means “deer”. She was always doing good things for people and had given much to the poor. 37But she became ill and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38Joppa wasn't far from Lydda, and the followers heard that Peter was there. They sent two men to say to him, “Please come with us as quickly as you can!” 39Straight away, Peter went with them.
The men took Peter upstairs into the room. Many widows were there crying. They showed him the coats and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was still alive.
40After Peter had sent everyone out of the room, he knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to the body of Dorcas and said, “Tabitha, get up!” The woman opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet.
Peter called in the widows and the other followers and showed them that Dorcas had been raised from death. 42Everyone in Joppa heard what had happened, and many of them put their faith in the Lord. 43Peter stayed on for a while in Joppa in the house of a man named Simon, who made leather.
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Acts 9: CEVUK
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012
Acts 9
9
The Damascus Road: Saul Converted
1Then #Acts 7:57; 8:1, 3; 26:10, 11; Gal. 1:13; 1 Tim. 1:13Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked #Acts 22:5letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3#Acts 22:6; 26:12, 13; 1 Cor. 15:8As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, #(Matt. 25:40)why are you persecuting Me?”
5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
6So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7And #Dan. 10:7; John 12:29; (Acts 22:9; 26:13)the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Ananias Baptizes Saul
10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus #Acts 22:12named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul #Acts 21:39; 22:3of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
13Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, #Acts 9:1how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all #Acts 7:59; 9:2, 21; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Tim. 2:22who call on Your name.”
15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for #Acts 13:2; 22:21; Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 15:10; Gal. 1:15; Eph. 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before #Rom. 1:5; 11:13; Gal. 2:7, 8Gentiles, #Acts 25:22, 23; 26:1kings, and the #Acts 21:40; Rom. 1:16; 9:1–5children of Israel. 16For #Acts 20:23; 2 Cor. 11:23–28; 12:7–10; Gal. 6:17; Phil. 1:29, 30I will show him how many things he must suffer for My #2 Cor. 4:11name’s sake.”
17#Acts 22:12, 13And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and #Acts 8:17laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and #Acts 2:4; 4:31; 8:17; 13:52be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
19So when he had received food, he was strengthened. #Acts 26:20Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
Saul Preaches Christ
20Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
21Then all who heard were amazed, and said, #Acts 8:3; 9:13; Gal. 1:13, 23“Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
22But Saul increased all the more in strength, #Acts 18:28and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Saul Escapes Death
23Now after many days were past, #Acts 23:12; 2 Cor. 11:26the Jews plotted to kill him. 24#2 Cor. 11:32But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25Then the disciples took him by night and #Josh. 2:15; 1 Sam. 19:12let him down through the wall in a large basket.
Saul at Jerusalem
26And #Acts 22:17–20; 26:20; Gal. 1:17, 18when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27#Acts 4:36; 13:2But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, #Acts 9:20, 22and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28So #Gal. 1:18he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 29And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the #Acts 6:1; 11:20Hellenists, #Acts 9:23; 2 Cor. 11:26but they attempted to kill him. 30When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
The Church Prospers
31#Acts 5:11; 8:1; 16:5Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were #(Eph. 4:16, 29)edified. And walking in the #Ps. 34:9fear of the Lord and in the #John 14:16comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were #Acts 16:5multiplied.
Aeneas Healed
32Now it came to pass, as Peter went #Acts 8:14through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. 33There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. 34And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, #(Acts 3:6, 16; 4:10)Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. 35So all who dwelt at Lydda and #1 Chr. 5:16; 27:29; Is. 33:9; 35:2; 65:10Sharon saw him and #Acts 11:21; 15:19turned to the Lord.
Dorcas Restored to Life
36At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full #1 Tim. 2:10; Titus 3:8of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 37But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in #Acts 1:13; 9:39an upper room. 38And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40But Peter #Matt. 9:25put them all out, and #Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he #Mark 5:41, 42; John 11:43said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42And it became known throughout all Joppa, #John 11:45and many believed on the Lord. 43So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with #Acts 10:6Simon, a tanner.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.