Acts 9
9
The Conversion of Saul
(Acts 22.6–16; 26.12–18)
1In the meantime Saul kept up his violent threats of murder against the followers of the Lord. He went to the High Priest 2and asked for letters of introduction to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he should find there any followers of the Way of the Lord, he would be able to arrest them, both men and women, and bring them back to Jerusalem.
3As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed round him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?”
5“Who are you, Lord?” he asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you persecute,” the voice said. 6“But get up and go into the city, where you will be told what you must do.”
7The men who were travelling with Saul had stopped, not saying a word; they heard the voice but could not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground and opened his eyes, but could not see a thing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 9For three days he was not able to see, and during that time he did not eat or drink anything.
10There was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. He had a vision, in which the Lord said to him, “Ananias!”
“Here I am, Lord,” he answered.
11The Lord said to him, “Get ready and go to Straight Street, and at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying, 12and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he might see again.”
13Ananias answered, “Lord, many people have told me about this man and about all the terrible things he has done to your people in Jerusalem. 14And he has come to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who worship you.”
15The Lord said to him, “Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel. 16And I myself will show him all that he must suffer for my sake.”
17So Ananias went, entered the house where Saul was, and placed his hands on him. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord has sent me — Jesus himself, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He sent me so that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18At once something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he was able to see again. He stood up and was baptized; 19and after he had eaten, his strength came back.
Saul Preaches in Damascus
Saul stayed for a few days with the believers in Damascus. 20He went straight to the synagogues and began to preach that Jesus was the Son of God.
21All who heard him were amazed and asked, “Isn't he the one who in Jerusalem was killing those who worship that man Jesus? And didn't he come here for the very purpose of arresting those people and taking them back to the chief priests?”
22But Saul's preaching became even more powerful, and his proofs that Jesus was the Messiah were so convincing that the Jews who lived in Damascus could not answer him.
23 #
2 Cor 11.32–33
After many days had gone by, the Jews met together and made plans to kill Saul, 24but he was told of their plan. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. 25But one night Saul's followers took him and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
Saul in Jerusalem
26Saul went to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples. But they would not believe that he was a disciple, and they were all afraid of him. 27Then Barnabas came to his help and took him to the apostles. He explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had spoken to him. He also told them how boldly Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 28And so Saul stayed with them and went all over Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29He also talked and disputed with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30When the believers found out about this, they took Saul to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.
31And so it was that the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had a time of peace. Through the help of the Holy Spirit it was strengthened and grew in numbers, as it lived in reverence for the Lord.
Peter in Lydda and Joppa
32Peter travelled everywhere, and on one occasion he went to visit God's people who lived in Lydda. 33There he met a man named Aeneas, who was paralysed and had not been able to get out of bed for eight years. 34“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ makes you well. Get up and make your bed.” At once Aeneas got up. 35All the people living in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36In Joppa there was a woman named Tabitha, who was a believer. (Her name in Greek is Dorcas, meaning “a deer”.) She spent all her time doing good and helping the poor. 37At that time she became ill and died. Her body was washed and laid in a room upstairs. 38Joppa was not very far from Lydda, and when the believers in Joppa heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him with the message, “Please hurry and come to us.” 39So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, he was taken to the room upstairs, where all the widows crowded round him, crying and showing him all the shirts and coats that Dorcas had made while she was alive. 40Peter put them all out of the room, and knelt down and prayed; then he turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41Peter reached over and helped her get up. Then he called all the believers, including the widows, and presented her alive to them. 42The news about this spread all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43Peter stayed on in Joppa for many days with a tanner of leather named Simon.
Currently Selected:
Acts 9: GNBDC
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.