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 leaders of the synagogues 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 saying, “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.”
7 #
Dn 10.7; 3 Macc 6.18; Ac 22.6-9. The 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 on 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 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 worshiping 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.”
18 #
Tb 11.13-15. Suddenly 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 synagogues 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.
23 #
2 Co 11.32,33. Later some of them made plans to kill Saul, 24but he found out about it. He learned 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 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 worshiping the Lord. The church became stronger, as the Holy Spirit encouraged it and helped it grow.
Peter Heals Aeneas
32While Peter was traveling 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 fix something to eat.” At once 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 got sick 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!” 39At once, 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: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Acts 9
9
1But meanwhile Saul was making violent threats against the disciples of the Lord, wanting to kill them. He went to the high priest 2and asked for letters of authorization to take with him to the synagogues in Damascus, giving him permission to arrest any believers in the Way#9:2. “Believers in the Way,” one early term referring to followers of Jesus. that he found, men or women, and bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners.
3As Saul approached Damascus, suddenly he was surrounded by a light that blazed down from heaven. 4He fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, the one you're persecuting,” he replied. 6“Get up, go on into the city, and you'll be told what to do.”
7The men who were traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice speaking, but they didn't see anyone. 8Saul got to his feet, and when he opened his eyes, he couldn't see anything. His companions took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9For three days he couldn't see, and he didn't eat or drink anything.
10A follower of Jesus called Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision.
“Ananias!” he called.
“I'm here, Lord,” Ananias responded.
11“Get up, and go to Straight Street,” the Lord told him. “Ask at Judas' house for someone called Saul, from Tarsus. He's praying. 12He's seen in vision a man called Ananias come and place his hands on him so he can regain his sight.”
13“But Lord,” Ananias replied, “I've heard a lot about this man—about all the evil things he did to the believers in Jerusalem. 14The chief priests have given him the power to arrest everyone here that worships and follows you.”
15But the Lord told him, “Get on your way, because he is the person I have chosen to take my name to foreigners and kings, as well as to Israel. 16I will show him what he'll have to suffer for my name's sake.”
17So Ananias left and went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “The Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were traveling here, has sent me so you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Immediately, something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized. 19He also had something to eat and felt stronger.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20He immediately started speaking in the synagogues, saying, “Jesus is the Son of God.” 21All who heard him were amazed, and asked, “Isn't this the man who caused so much trouble in Jerusalem for those who believed in Jesus? Wasn't he coming here to have the believers arrested and taken in chains to the chief priests?” 22Saul grew more and more confident, proving Jesus was the Messiah so convincingly that the Jews who lived in Damascus could not refute him.
23Some time later the Jews plotted together to kill him, 24but Saul learned of their intentions. Day and night they waited by the city gates looking for the chance to murder him. 25So during the night his followers took him and lowered him down in a basket from an opening in the city wall. 26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him because they were not convinced he was really a disciple. 27However, Barnabas took him to meet the apostles, and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. Barnabas also explained how in Damascus Saul had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.
28Saul stayed with the apostles and accompanied them all over Jerusalem, 29speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30When the brothers learned of this they took him to Caesarea, and sent him to Tarsus.
31During this time the whole church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was left in peace. The church grew strong and increased rapidly in numbers as the believers lived reverently for the Lord,#9:31. Literally, “in the fear of the Lord.” encouraged by the Holy Spirit.
32Peter was traveling around and went to visit the believers who lived in Lydda. 33There he met a man called Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years. 34Peter told him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and pick up your mat!” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35Everyone living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and became believers in the Lord.
36In Joppa lived a follower called Tabitha (Dorcas in Greek).#9:36. Tabitha/Dorcas means “gazelle.” She was always doing good and helping the poor. 37However, about this time she became sick, and died. After washing her body, they laid her out in an upstairs room. 38Lydda was near Joppa, so the disciples in Joppa, hearing that Peter was in Lydda, sent two men to him with the message, “Please come to us right away.” 39So Peter got ready and left with them. When he arrived they took him upstairs. All the widows were there crying, and they showed him the coats and clothes that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40Peter told them all to leave, kneeled down, and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41He took her by the hand and lifted her up. He called in the believers and the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42The news spread through the whole of Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43Peter spent a long time in Joppa, staying at the house of Simon the tanner.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com