Acts of the Apostles 9
9
Saul encounters the risen Jesus
1Meanwhile, Saul was still spewing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest, 2seeking letters to the synagogues in Damascus. If he found persons who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, these letters would authorize him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3During the journey, as he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven encircled him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice asking him, “Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me?”
5Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?”
“I am Jesus, whom you are harassing,” came the reply. 6“Now get up and enter the city. You will be told what you must do.”
7Those traveling with him stood there speechless; they heard the voice but saw no one. 8After they picked Saul up from the ground, he opened his eyes but he couldn’t see. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind and neither ate nor drank anything.
10In Damascus there was a certain disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
He answered, “Yes, Lord.”
11The Lord instructed him, “Go to Judas’ house on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias enter and put his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13Ananias countered, “Lord, I have heard many reports about this man. People say he has done horrible things to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14He’s here with authority from the chief priests to arrest everyone who calls on your name.”
15The Lord replied, “Go! This man is the agent I have chosen to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
17Ananias went to the house. He placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord sent me—Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you were coming here. He sent me so that you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Instantly, flakes fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized. 19After eating, he regained his strength.
He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days. 20Right away, he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. “He is God’s Son,” he declared.
21Everyone who heard him was baffled. They questioned each other, “Isn’t he the one who was wreaking havoc among those in Jerusalem who called on this name? Hadn’t he come here to take those same people as prisoners to the chief priests?”
22But Saul grew stronger and stronger. He confused the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
23After this had gone on for some time, the Jews hatched a plot to kill Saul. 24However, he found out about their scheme. They were keeping watch at the city gates around the clock so they could assassinate him. 25But his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city wall.
26When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was really a disciple. 27Then Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and told them the story about how Saul saw the Lord on the way and that the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them about the confidence with which Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 28After this, Saul moved freely among the disciples in Jerusalem and was speaking with confidence in the name of the Lord. 29He got into debates with the Greek-speaking Jews as well, but they tried to kill him. 30When the family of believers learned about this, they escorted him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. God strengthened the church, and its life was marked by reverence for the Lord. Encouraged by the Holy Spirit, the church continued to grow in numbers.
Peter heals and raises the dead
32As Peter toured the whole region, he went to visit God’s holy people in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and had been confined to his bed for eight years. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed.” At once he got up. 35Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
36In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas). Her life overflowed with good works and compassionate acts on behalf of those in need. 37About that time, though, she became so ill that she died. After they washed her body, they laid her in an upstairs room. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two people to Peter. They urged, “Please come right away!” 39Peter went with them. Upon his arrival, he was taken to the upstairs room. All the widows stood beside him, crying as they showed the tunics and other clothing Dorcas made when she was alive.
40Peter sent everyone out of the room, then knelt and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41He gave her his hand and raised her up. Then he called God’s holy people, including the widows, and presented her alive to them. 42The news spread throughout Joppa, and many put their faith in the Lord. 43Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with a certain tanner named Simon.
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Acts of the Apostles 9: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Acts 9
9
The Conversion of Saul
Ac 22:6–16; 26:12–18
1#Ac 8:3; Ps 27:12Saul, still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2#Ac 19:9; 19:23and requested letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any there of the Way, either men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3#1Co 15:8; Ac 22:6As he went he drew near Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4#Isa 63:9; Zec 2:8He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
5He said, “Who are You, Lord?”
The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6Trembling and astonished, he said, “Lord, what will You have me do?” The Lord said to him, “Rise up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7#Ac 22:9; Da 10:7; Jn 12:29The men traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one. 8#Ac 22:11; 9:18Saul rose up from the ground. And when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9#Est 4:16For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10#Ac 10:3; 22:12A disciple named Ananias was in Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”
He said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11#Ac 21:39; 22:3The Lord said to him, “Rise and go to Straight Street, and inquire at Judas’ house for someone named Saul of Tarsus, for he is praying, 12#Mk 5:23and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he may see again.”
13#Ac 8:3; 9:1Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how many evil things he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem. 14#Ac 9:21; 7:59And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
15#Ac 13:2; Eph 3:7–8But the Lord said to him, “Go your way. For this man is a chosen vessel of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the sons of Israel. 16#Ac 21:11; 2Co 11:23–27For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
17#Ac 2:4; 6:6Then Ananias went his way and entered the house. Putting his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the way as you came, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18#Ac 22:16Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. And he rose up and was baptized. 19#Ac 26:20When he had eaten, he was strengthened.
Saul Preaches in Damascus
For several days Saul was with the disciples in Damascus. 20Immediately he preached in the synagogues that the Christ is the Son of God. 21#Ac 8:3; 9:13–14All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this he who killed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and came here with that intent, to bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22#Ac 18:5Yet Saul increased all the more with power and confounded the Jews living in Damascus, proving that this One is the Christ.
Saul Escapes from the Jews
23After many days had passed, the Jews arranged to kill him. 24#Ac 25:3; 2Co 11:32But their scheme was known by Saul. They watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25#2Co 11:33; Jos 2:15But the disciples took him by night, and lowered him in a basket through the wall.
Saul in Jerusalem
26#Ac 26:20When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But they all feared him, not believing he was a disciple. 27#Ac 4:36; 4:29But Barnabas took him, and led him to the apostles, and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had boldly preached in Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28#Ac 1:21So he stayed with them while coming in and going out of Jerusalem. 29#Ac 6:1; 2Co 11:26And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists. But they tried to kill him. 30#Ac 8:40; 9:11When the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him off to Tarsus.
31#Ac 8:1; Ne 5:9Then the churches throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and were built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
The Healing of Aeneas
32#Ac 9:13; 8:25As Peter passed through every region, he came down also to the saints who lived in Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. 34#Ac 3:6; 3:16Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Rise up and make your bed.” And immediately he rose up. 35#1Ch 5:16; Ac 11:21All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
Dorcas Restored to Life
36#2Ch 2:16; Ezr 3:7In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and almsgiving. 37#Ac 1:13; 20:8In those days she became ill and died. And when they had washed her, they placed her in an upper room. 38#Ac 9:36Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, pleading, “Do not delay to come to us.”
39Peter rose up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him into the upper room. All the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
40#Mt 9:25; Ac 7:60Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41#Ac 6:1He gave her his hand and lifted her up. And when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42#Jn 11:45; 12:11It became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43#Ac 10:6; 10:32He remained in Joppa for many days with Simon, a tanner.
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