Acts 9
9
Saul Becomes a Follower of Jesus
1Saul kept threatening to murder the Lord’s disciples. He went to the chief priest 2and asked him to write letters of authorization to the synagogue leaders in the city of Damascus. Saul wanted to arrest any man or woman who followed the way ⌞of Christ⌟ and imprison them in Jerusalem.
3As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
5Saul asked, “Who are you, sir?”
The person replied, “I’m Jesus, the one you’re persecuting. 6Get up! Go into the city, and you’ll be told what you should do.”
7Meanwhile, the men traveling with him were speechless. They heard the voice but didn’t see anyone.
8Saul was helped up from the ground. When he opened his eyes, he was blind. So his companions led him into Damascus. 9For three days he couldn’t see and didn’t eat or drink.
10A disciple named Ananias lived in the city of Damascus. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
Ananias answered, “Yes, Lord.”
11The Lord told him, “Get up! Go to Judas’ house on Straight Street, and ask for a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. He’s praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13Ananias replied, “Lord, I’ve heard a lot of people tell about the many evil things this man has done to your people in Jerusalem. 14Saul has come here to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to put anyone who calls on your name in prison.”
15The Lord told Ananias, “Go! I’ve chosen this man to bring my name to nations, to kings, and to the people of Israel. 16I’ll show him how much he has to suffer for the sake of my name.”
17Ananias left and entered Judas’ house. After he placed his hands on Saul, Ananias said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way to Damascus, sent me to you. He wants you to see again and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18Immediately, something like fish scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. Then Saul stood up and was baptized. 19After he had something to eat, his strength came back to him.
Saul was with the disciples in the city of Damascus for several days. 20He immediately began to spread the word in their synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God. 21Everyone who heard him was amazed. They asked, “Isn’t this the man who destroyed those who worshiped the one named Jesus in Jerusalem? Didn’t he come here to take these worshipers as prisoners to the chief priests ⌞in Jerusalem⌟?”
22Saul grew more powerful, and he confused the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah. 23Later the Jews planned to murder Saul, 24but Saul was told about their plot. They were watching the city gates day and night in order to murder him. 25However, Saul’s disciples lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall one night.
26After Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. But everyone was afraid of him. They wouldn’t believe that he was a disciple.
27Then Barnabas took an interest in Saul and brought him to the apostles. Barnabas told the apostles how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had spoken to him. Barnabas also told them how boldly Saul had spoken about the one named Jesus in the city of Damascus. 28Then Saul went throughout Jerusalem with the disciples. He spoke boldly with the power and authority of the Lord.
29He talked and argued with Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. 30As soon as the disciples found out about this, they took Saul to Caesarea and sent him to Tarsus.
31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace. The number of people increased as people lived in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Peter Heals Aeneas
32When Peter was going around to all of God’s people, he came to those who lived in the city of Lydda. 33In Lydda Peter found a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed and confined to a cot for eight years.
34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you well. Get up, and pick up your cot.” Aeneas immediately got up.
35Everyone who lived in the city of Lydda and the coastal region of Sharon saw what had happened to Aeneas and turned to the Lord in faith.
Peter Brings Tabitha Back to Life
36A disciple named Tabitha lived in the city of Joppa. Her Greek name was Dorcas. She always helped people and gave things to the poor. 37She became sick and died. Her body was prepared for burial and was laid in an upstairs room.
38Lydda is near the city of Joppa. When the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him. They begged Peter, “Hurry to Joppa! We need your help!”
39So Peter went with them. When he arrived, he was taken upstairs. All the widows stood around him. They were crying and showing Peter the articles of clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40Peter made everyone leave the room.
He knelt and prayed. Then he turned toward the body and said, “Tabitha, get up!”
Tabitha opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. 41Peter took her hand and helped her stand up. After he called the believers, especially the widows, he presented Tabitha to them. She was alive.
42The news about this spread throughout the city of Joppa, and as a result, many people believed in the Lord.
43Peter stayed in Joppa for a number of days with Simon, a leatherworker.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
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.